CELEBRITY
WIMBLEDON LIVE: Wimbledon shares touching Andy Murray tribute video led by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Venus Williams and more: ‘We were proud to play against you’
Wimbledon paid tribute to Andy Murray on Thursday with an emotional video led by several of his former rivals after the Brit began his final tournament at the All England Club before retiring later this summer.
Murray, 37, is set to bring the curtain down on his decorated career after the Paris Olympics having struggled with injuries over recent years. He was hoping to play in the singles at Wimbledon, but was unable to prove his fitness after spinal cyst surgery last month. However, the 37-year-old agreed to play with his brother Jamie in the doubles, while he was also take to the court in the mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu.
Unfortunately for the Murray brothers, they lost 6-7 (6-8) 4-6 to Australian pair Rinky Jijikata and John Peers in the first round on Centre Court on Thursday evening, but Murray was honoured afterwards. The celebrations of his career included an emotional tribute video the tournament released on social media that featured Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, while Venus Williams also took part.
The quartet honoured Murray’s achievements, while several highlights of his time in the game at Wimbledon and beyond were shown. Within the three minute and 55 second video, Federer, Djokovic, Williams and Nadal all took it in turns to speak. We know that journey and we know what it’s like to live those dreams,’ Federer began.
Murray was always hugely popular at Wimbledon as a home favourite after first appearing at the tournament in 2005. He reached three successive semi-finals between 2009 and 2011, and then heartbreakingly lost in the final to Federer in 2012. He would eventually achieve his dreams in 2013 when he beat Djokovic, before winning the tournament again in 2016.
And Federer referenced this long path to glory later in the video as he added: ‘While you carried your own dreams, you also carried theirs. It made the joy even greater when it came.’