Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios recently shared his thoughts on Andy Murray’s retirement, voicing his opinion that the British legend deserved a more graceful exit from the sport. Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, announced his retirement following a career marked by exceptional achievements and relentless battles with injury. Widely considered the greatest British men’s singles player in tennis history, Murray’s decision to step back from competition was influenced primarily by ongoing fitness concerns, including severe hip issues that have plagued him in recent years.
Kyrgios, who has often been labeled one of Australia’s most gifted players and has faced his own share of injury setbacks, expressed his views in an interview with BBC Sport. He acknowledged Murray’s phenomenal career, comparing him to the sport’s other titans, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. Yet, Kyrgios remarked that Murray’s departure could have been less physically grueling.
Reflecting on Murray’s legacy, Kyrgios stated, “I look at how Andy Murray’s doing it now, and how Rafael [Nadal] is going out, and I don’t want to be like that either. I don’t want to be kind of crawling to the finish line, in a sense.” He praised Murray’s accomplishments, noting, “What Andy Murray’s achieved in this sport is second to basically no-one… unless you are Novak [Djokovic], [Roger] Federer, or Nadal. The next person is Andy Murray. He’s achieved everything. You deserve to go out, I think, a little bit more gracefully than he’s done.”
Kyrgios’ comments were driven by empathy for the physical toll Murray has endured. Since 2017, Murray has undergone multiple surgeries, including a complex hip resurfacing operation that allowed him to extend his career but did not fully eliminate his discomfort. Kyrgios believes that enduring such surgeries and the associated pain to keep competing might not have been worth it, considering the heights Murray had already reached. “The surgeries, the pain—it’s just not worth it, in my opinion,” Kyrgios continued.
Murray’s final year in tennis was a rollercoaster of resilience and disappointment. Earlier this year, he announced that he planned to retire following a final appearance in his home country at Wimbledon, intending to play in the singles competition. Unfortunately, a serious back injury forced him to withdraw from the singles event, reshaping his farewell to one last effort in the doubles category. He partnered with his brother Jamie, a distinguished doubles player, in an attempt to make a meaningful last stand in front of a home crowd. However, the Murray brothers’ journey was cut short in the first round after a hard-fought match. While it was a touching moment for fans, it also underscored the physical limitations that had finally caught up with Andy.
His final competitive appearance took place on an even grander international stage—the Paris Olympics. Joining Dan Evans in the doubles competition, Murray put up one last brave fight, determined to give his best despite the evident physical challenges he was battling. The pair made it to the quarterfinals but ultimately fell short, marking the end of Murray’s career in a bittersweet fashion.
For Kyrgios, Murray’s story is both inspiring and cautionary. Kyrgios, who has openly acknowledged his ambivalence about tennis and faced numerous physical setbacks of his own, indicated that he’d like his own retirement to be different. The 29-year-old Australian, who has sat out much of the recent season due to injuries, finds himself increasingly aware of the sacrifices Murray made to extend his career, even when it meant enduring substantial pain. The high demands of the sport—constant travel, year-round tournaments, and the relentless pursuit of peak performance—can weigh heavily on athletes, especially as they age.
In addition to the physical challenges, Murray’s journey reflects the emotional weight that comes with deciding when to walk away. For players like Murray, who have tasted Grand Slam glory and reached the pinnacle of the sport, retirement isn’t merely an end to competition but a significant shift in identity. For Murray, who had already achieved so much, the decision to continue fighting through injury reflects his unmatched dedication, yet Kyrgios suggests that it may also highlight a reluctance to accept the inevitable.
Kyrgios’s words resonate in a broader context, too. As tennis legends like Federer and Nadal face their own career endpoints, the debate around how an athlete should retire gains even more relevance. Federer, for example, retired in a celebratory exhibition match at the Laver Cup, leaving the sport on his terms, surrounded by fellow players and an adoring crowd. Nadal, who has suggested 2024 may be his final season, is also working to orchestrate a farewell that honors his legacy without undue physical suffering. For Kyrgios, this type of graceful, self-directed exit is crucial and something he aspires to as well.
Murray, however, took a different path, one marked by grit and the desire to compete until he could no longer. His decision to battle through multiple surgeries and attempt a comeback, while courageous, also stands as a reminder of the sacrifices some athletes make to pursue their passion. In Murray’s case, it was a choice that came at a significant cost to his health but added another chapter to his remarkable career, showcasing a relentless willpower that few can match.
As for Kyrgios, his reflections on Murray’s journey suggest a more measured approach to his own career’s final stages. Rather than pushing through potentially debilitating injuries, Kyrgios seems to lean toward a retirement that prioritizes well-being and allows him to enjoy life beyond the court. He’s expressed a desire not to experience the kind of struggle that Murray endured and instead to focus on preserving the memories of his peak performances.
Ultimately, Murray’s farewell, though physically challenging, reflects a legacy of resilience and determination. While Kyrgios may not wish to follow the same path, he joins countless fans and players in honoring Murray’s incredible career—a testament to the relentless spirit of an athlete who gave everything to the sport he loved.