Andy Murray: Five Wimbledon moments / Photo: GLYN KIRK - AFP/File
Andy Murray: Five Wimbledon moments
Andy Murray on Tuesday withdrew from the singles at Wimbledon after failing to recover from a back operation.
The two-time champion is still expected to play doubles with his brother Jamie in what will be his final appearance at the All England Club before retirement.
AFP Sport looks at five key moments in the Wimbledon career of the former world number one, which stretched over two decades.
2005 -- George, the first
Ranked 312 in the world, a gangly Murray made his Wimbledon debut against Switzerland's George Bastl, who three years earlier had ended the All England Club career of seven-time champion Pete Sampras in a seismic shock.
Just 18, Murray showed few nerves as he swept past his 146th-ranked opponent 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 out on Court Two.
"I wasn't really expecting to win -- obviously he's much better than me," said Murray.
Bastl was impressed by what he had seen.
"You are right to get excited about Murray," he said.
Murray went on to defeat world number 13 Radek Stepanek before losing in the third round to 2002 runner-up David Nalbandian, having been two sets up.
2012 -- Tearful defeat to Federer
Murray was the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin in 1938 but he was up against then six-time champion Roger Federer.
Despite winning the first set, Murray was defeated 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 by the Swiss great.
It was his fourth defeat in four Grand Slam finals after also losing to Federer in the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open finals and to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final of 2011.
"I'm getting closer," said Murray. "I'd say that's the best I've played in a Grand Slam final."
2013 -- First Wimbledon title
Murray made history by becoming the first British man since Fred Perry 77 years earlier to capture the Wimbledon singles title.
The Scot defeated Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 with victory sealed on a fourth match point at the end of a nerve-jangling 12-minute game.
The Scot pocketed £1.6 million for his victory in stark comparison to Perry's £10 reward for his 1936 triumph.
"Roger is probably the greatest player ever, Novak is one of the mentally strongest ever. I never had experience on my side. To beat him was so tough, it was such a tough match," said Murray.
2016 -- Second Wimbledon crown
Murray dismantled the big-serving game of Canada's Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/2), winning his third Grand Slam title. He had won his first at the 2012 US Open.
It was his 11th Slam final but the first one that did not feature either Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic on the other side of the net.
Murray only faced two break points in the final and saved them both.
"This is the most important tournament for me every year," said Murray.
"I've had some great moments here, but also some tough losses. The win feels extra special because of the tough losses."
2024 -- End of the road
Murray, now ranked 113, had hoped to play singles at Wimbledon for the final time before retiring at the Paris Olympics.
However, he failed to recover fully from an operation to remove a spinal cyst, which had caused him to lose feeling in his right leg.
His singles career at the All England Club yielded two titles, a win-loss record of 61-13 and the best part of $10 million in prize money.
"As you can imagine, Andy is extremely disappointed but has confirmed that he will be playing in the doubles with Jamie and looks forward to competing at Wimbledon for the last time," said his management team.
N.Steward--EWJ
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