Andy Murray of Team Great Britain reacts during a tennis training session GETTY IMAGES

British tennis player Andy Murray has opted out of the singles tournament at the Olympics due to back issues. He will partner with compatriot Dan Evans in what will be his final competition as a professional. Murray is the only player to have won two singles gold medals in Olympic history.

Murray arrives in Paris with the announcement that he will no longer play. The continuous physical problems of the last years and his age, 37, make him decide to conclude a career full of successes.

For tennis fans this is sad news. Especially as Murray has been battling physical problems for seven years. 2017 was the beginning of the downfall for a tennis player who was in the prime of his career. He was number one of the ATP Ranking.



It was 2016 which was Murray's best year. He won his second consecutive Olympic gold medal in Rio, his second Wimbledon and the ATP Finals. A total of 9 tournaments in one year. He had been a tennis star for several years, but his light started to fade soon after.

As an Olympian, he is the only tennis player to have won two Olympic singles gold medals, in 2012 and 2016. In addition, in 2012, he was a silver medallist in mixed doubles alongside Laura Robson.

In Paris he will play the men's doubles with Daniel Evans. The Roland Garros courts will be the last ones to see him play as a professional. He has never won the Paris tournament, although he did play in a final, which he lost to Novak Djokovic.



Murray is proud to be able to finish his career by representing his country again. He can't help but remember that magical victory at London 2012. The Wimbledon courts hosted the Games weeks after the most classic tournament in the tennis world. That year he lost the final to Roger Federer, but got his revenge on the Swiss player at the Games. One of the greatest victories of his career. In 2013 he won his first Wimbledon title, 77 years after the last victory by a British player.

Among tennis fans, the question has long been asked what Murray's career would have been like if he had not coincided in time with Djokovic, Federer and Rafa Nadal. They are the three players with the most Grand Slam tournaments in history, and perhaps the three best ever. But playing against them also made Murray work harder to improve and become a very competitive player. Paris will give him his last hurrah.