Olympics: Andy Murray’s tennis farewell comes on his own terms

PARIS — The final days of Andy Murray‘s tennis career won’t play out like most of the others that came before. It won’t involve a singles match, nor is it likely that he will make a stirring run to a final or a classic comeback. His ongoing recovery from a spinal cyst procedure has potentially scuppered his chance to repeat greatness. “My back is still not perfect,” he admits. But there will be positive differences, too. This week, for example, he won’t be alone.

Instead, he has spent the past few days soaking up the final moments of his career in a six-person apartment that houses Team GB’s men’s tennis side, including his doubles partner, Dan Evans. Six like-minded guys hanging out and enjoying the athletes’ village; it’s an experience that the professional tennis circuit rarely offers to it’s players. “When you’re on your own on the tour, at times it is a little bit lonely,” Murray says.

These days in Paris, then, are about reliving memories and making some new ones. Outside of the apartment, there are unique experiences to savour and Murray has been lapping it up. There’s an ongoing contest between the six friends to collect as many pin badges as possible and Murray, a gleeful Olympic enthusiast, is winning. “The biggest talking point over dinner is how Andy’s been using his fame to an unfair advantage,” Evans wrote in a Daily Mail column this week. “Everyone recognises Andy so they ask him for a selfie and he grabs their badge in return. The rest of the guys don’t stand a chance.”

Winning at the Olympics is not new to Murray. It’s why these Games make for the perfect setting for his final farewell to tennis. He is a two-time Olympic men’s singles champion, and he has described those wins as the most memorable days of his career. His gold medals from London 2012 and Rio 2016 have bookended the most successful period of his career which included winning the U.S. Open (2012) as well as two Wimbledon titles (2013 and 2016).

“It feels like you’re part of something bigger than just yourself or your own sport,” Murray says. “I just know when I’m around the other athletes and in the village that it feels different to me. It feels more important.”

He admits that tends to happen when you can reminisce over wins rather than heartbreak. That checks out for Murray. His London 2012 triumph changed something in him — the month before, he stood on Wimbledon’s Centre Court and cried after losing the men’s final to Roger…