Andy Murray has crashed out of Tokyo Olympics after he and his doubles partner Joe Salisbury lost their quarter-final to the Croatian duo of Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig.
The Scottish tennis icon was bidding to become the first player in the sport’s history to win four Olympic medals but it wasn’t meant to be after he and Salisbury lost by the finest of margins (7-10) following a tie break in the final set.
Losing out by the finest of margins#TeamGB #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/YyQlstJB5t
— LTA (@the_LTA) July 28, 2021
The 34-year-old had earlier dropped out of the singles competition due to a quad strain, meaning that the doubles competition was his only path to medal success in Japan.
Given his age, this could likely mean that this was Murray’s last ever appearance at an Olympics. Fans were understandably gutted for the two-time Olympic champion.
Andy Murray’s Olympic career is over.
— David Smith (@DVDSmith) July 28, 2021
He finishes as the most successful male tennis player of the modern era, and the only player EVER to successfully defend a singles gold medal.
Take a bow, Andy. #Tokyo2020 https://t.co/ktU0p0Ngg1
Gutted for Andy Murray #Tennis #Tokyo2020 #OlympicGames
— Daniel York Loh 😷 (@DanielYorkLoh) July 28, 2021
Andy Murray knocked out of men’s doubles at #Tokyo2020 by Cilic. The end of the #Olympics career of men’s tennis’ greatest #Olympian ? #TokyoTogether #GBR
— Isolated Tag ➐ (@SithTurnedJedi) July 28, 2021
Unlucky @andy_murray and Joe Salisbury. Great effort! #TeamGB #Tokyo2020
— Chris Adie (@ChrisTomAdie05) July 28, 2021
A good campaign from Andy Murray and Joe Salisbury. They synced up well. pic.twitter.com/vropwxFpJ4
— . (@Ashish__TV) July 28, 2021
I love u @andy_murray ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
— ❤️ (@drivevolleys) July 28, 2021
Andy Murray's Olympic dream is over for the last (probably) time as he and Joe Salisbury lose to Cilic/Dodig in a deciding tie-break. He was genuinely in the running for another medal in a strong team. #Tokyo2020
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) July 28, 2021
Given the prevalence tennis holds on the world sporting stage outside of the Olympic Games, it probably doesn't need to be feted with additional attention - but if this is the last time we'll see Andy Murray at this kind of level, it's been a phenomenal pleasure. An Olympic hero.
— Andrew Steel (@andrewsteel52) July 28, 2021
The three-time Grand Slam winner won silver in the Mixed Doubles competition in London 2012, where he also won gold in the men’s singles events. He defended his title four years later in Rio de Janeiro but a fourth medal has eluded him.
