Roger Federer made his feelings for Andy Murray crystal clear after his retirement from the Olympics.
Roger Federer gave his honest verdict on Andy Murray after the Brit called a day on his tennis career.
Roger Federer expressed some warm remarks about Andy Murray after his retirement. (Image: ATP / Getty.)
Roger Federer described Andy Murray as a “true inspiration” in a moving video message to the Brit, who retired at the Olympics. Murray, 37, said prior to the Paris Games that he would be playing his last professional tennis event in the French city, with his run alongside Dan Evans ending at the quarter-final stage.
Murray was the strongest threat to Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic throughout their reigns in the sport. He won three Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals during a time when he shared the stage with three of tennis’ greatest-ever players.
The Brit was notably noticed when he was invited to join the trio at the Laver Cup for Federer’s farewell matches. He joined the Swiss greats Nadal and Djokovic in London and was formally recognised as a part of the ‘Big Four’, with Federer now doubling down on that stance.
“Hey, Andy. Many, many congratulations, my buddy, on a fantastic career,” Federer began in a message shared by the ATP Tour. “Wimbledon champion, US Open champion, Davis Cup champion, Olympic champion, and many more things you have achieved. So many Masters 1000s, world No. 1—and a sir.
“So, Sir Andy Murray, incredible effort on the most wonderful of careers, [being a] great human being and doing it all with a massive family at the end—and a hip, and a body, that clearly wasn’t giving you what you wanted anymore at the end.
“But you’ve been a true inspiration to me and many of the players out there, and I’m so happy you could do it as long as you did.
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“Just from my side, Andy, I have so much respect. I liked playing against you, even though I lost so many times against you, and it was horrible.
“Congrats on everything you have achieved, and everything that’s to come. Only all the best, and I’m sure we’ll see each other down the road.”
Murray was a formidable opponent for Federer, with the duo meeting 25 times during their careers. The Swiss ace leads the head-to-head 14-11, several of which came at Wimbledon.
