Andy Murray’s farewell was one of the withdrawals of 2024 | ATP Tour

The Best of 2024

Murray’s emotional goodbye was one of the 2024 retirements

First part of the series of ATP Tour withdrawals in the season

December 07, 2024

At the close of another stellar season, ATPTour.com launches the ‘Best’ of the year special, which will address the most exciting rivalries, matches, comebacks and surprises of the season.

Today we look back at some of the big names who ended their professional careers this year. Andy Murray headlines Part 1 of this story, with Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal starring in Part 2 on Sunday.

Andy Murray
The Scot ended his career in the most iconic way possible. Playing doubles at the Olympics, the two-time gold medalist partnered Daniel Evans and won their first match by coming back from 9/4 in the Match Tie-break, saving five consecutive match points to take the victory.

The dramatic comebacks of Murray and Evans did not end there, extending the former World No. 1’s career a little further. Together they survived two match points in the second round before being eliminated in the quarterfinals. After two victories. Murray celebrated as if they had won the gold medal, making clear the great meaning that sport always had in his heart.

Murray remained at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings for 41 weeks, winning three Grand Slam cups and 739 singles victories throughout his brilliant career. A key moment came in 2012, when he won the Olympic gold medal on the grass at Wimbledon.

That same summer he would end up lifting his first Grand Slam title at the 2012 US Open, defeating Novak Djokovic in a five-set final. The match lasted four hours and 54 minutes, equaling the second-longest final in US Open history.

One year later. Murray ended a 77-year wait to see a British champion at Wimbledon. That day the BBC claimed that Murray had become “Wimbledon champion and national treasure.” Winning Wimbledon wasn’t the only thing Murray achieved for Great Britain. In 2015, he led the British team to the first Davis Cup in its history since 1936.

Andy will be remembered for a career filled with historic achievements, achieved against some of the greatest players in tennis history.

“I gave everything I could during my career,” Murray said at the Paris Olympics. “Obviously there are things I would have done differently, but it was difficult to win Grand Slam titles in this sport with the players I had in front of me. “I am proud of my achievements, my efforts and I am looking forward to taking a good rest from now on.”

Steve Johnson
The Californian became a prominent figure on the ATP Tour with a devastating forehand, a lethal sliced ​​backhand and great fighting spirit. Johnson turned professional in 2012 after leading the University of South Carolina to four consecutive NCAA team titles and winning the individual crown twice. He completed his college career with 72 straight singles victories.

Johnson would manage to lift four ATP Tour trophies and achieve the best position of his career as No. 21 in 2016. He teamed up with his compatriot Jack Sock at the 2016 Rio Olympics, winning the bronze medal. He managed to close the year in the Top 50 for five consecutive seasons (2014-18), always being a tough opponent for anyone. Steve retired with his friends and family in Indian Wells.

“I feel very proud of everything achieved. I feel like I did everything I could, correcting mistakes, playing or doing all the things necessary to play tennis. I feel like I left nothing undone. To me, that’s the most important thing,” Johnson said.

“I don’t want to look back and have regrets about whether I had done X, Y or Z. In my case, I feel great pride in everything I achieved. Having the career I’ve had, all the accomplishments, it’s been a lot of fun when I look back. Knowing that my wife and daughters may not remember me playing tennis, but they see those other things, that’s what means the most to me.”

Ivo Karlovic
From a height of 2.11m, the Croatian developed one of the most powerful serves in the history of tennis. Karlovic is the second player with the most aces recorded, connecting with 13,728 aces according to Infosys ATP Stats. Only John Isner has accumulated a higher figure. [Los registros de aces se contabilizan desde 1991].

Karlovic finished his sporting career with eight ATP Tour titles, reaching his highest ranking of No. 14 in 2008. At Wimbledon 2003, Ivo made his major debut, defeating reigning champion Lleyton Hewitt en route to his only Grand Slam quarterfinal. .

Karlovic confirmed his retirement in February, after being out of competition since February 2021. “I have had a very rewarding, unorthodox and long career for someone from very humble origins, especially for a tennis player,” Karlovic said. Read ‘My Point’ by Karlovic

Ivo Karlovic, John Millman, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, Joao Sousa and Dominic Thiem.” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2024/11/15/19/06/nitto-atp-finals-2024-retirement-ceremony.jpg” style=”color: #999999; background-color: #f9f9f9; width: 100%;”>

_{Ivo Karlovic, John Millman, Andrea Gaudenzi, Joao Sousa and Dominic Thiem at the Nitto ATP Finals 2024. Photograph: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour}

Joao Souza
His achievements made him a national icon in Portugal. Sousa is the Portuguese player who has reached the highest position in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings, climbing to world No. 28 in 2016.

In 2013, Sousa became the first player from his country to win an ATP Tour title (Kuala Lumpur). His path did not stop there. Sousa accumulated four trophies and demonstrated his talent against the best players on the circuit, adding five Top 10 victories. He reached the fourth round of the US Open 2018 and Wimbledon 2019. Sousa put the finishing touch to his career in front of his fans in Estoril this season.

“I couldn’t ask for a better ending. I think it’s the best place I could end my career,” Sousa said. “It was very special.” [ganar aquí] in 2018, with the support of the entire stands throughout the week. “It was incredible to feel the love and support of my fans at home in Portugal.”

John Millman
From heaven to hell, Millman experienced a range of emotions during his 14-year professional career that culminated at the Australian Open. The broad path of aussie on the circuit included an ATP Tour title, a victory against Roger Federer en route to the quarterfinals at the 2018 US Open and making the most of his potential, including in the face of adversity that involved multiple shoulder surgeries.

“I hope people enjoyed the journey and saw that I gave my all. If that is the mark that remains, I will have done my job,” said the former world No. 33.

Federico Delbonis
The Argentine was a demanding opponent, who surprised with his left-handed game and attracted the attention of fans with an unorthodox service motion. Two-time ATP Tour champion, Delbonis reached a career-high No. 33 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016. The South American hung up his racket in January.

“Today ends one of the most enriching journeys of my life,” Delbonis said. “It is the end of a stage, in which I learned to be an athlete and a person. I have lived moments that are impossible to forget on and off the courts.” Read Tribute to Delbonis’ Retirement

Ryan Harrison
The American’s game was as explosive as his competitive spirit. Harrison reached the Top 40 of the PIF ATP Rankings and reached No. 16 in doubles. “I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world to have a dream and the opportunity to make it come true,” Harrison wrote in a retirement post on his social media in January.

In 2017, Harrison played the best tennis of his life. He won his only ATP Tour singles title in Memphis and joined forces with Michael Venus to lift the doubles crown at Roland Garros. Harrison and Venus qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals that year and reached the semifinals.