The fat lady is clearing her throat and soon she will be signing the end of Andy Murray’s professional tennis career.
The legendary British sportsman will enter the discussion for his nation’s greatest ever following three Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals.
Earlier today, Murray announced that he will definitely retire after his participation at the Olympics comes to an end in Paris.
He awaits the draw for the first round of the singles and he will be desperate to be handed a match that feels like a winnable one.
Following his announcement earlier, several of his fellow professionals have reacted and it seems clear how the rest of the locker room feels.
Andy Murray announces retirement
The 37-year-old made the world aware of his decision earlier today with a post on social media.
Murray has won just seven competitive matches this year and it does feel like the time is right to end his career.
The man with two Wimbledon titles to his name was forced out of the singles at SW19 this year after needing surgery on a spinal cyst after Queen’s.
Murray deserves the chance to bow out on his own terms and this feels like a decision that is now right for the star to make.
The talented player has nothing left to prove to anyone and the hope will be that he can enjoy one final memorable moment at the Olympics.
Stan Wawrinka and Fernando Verdasco react to Andy Murray retirement announcement
Swiss star Wawrinka was the man who knocked Murray out of the French Open last month.
He beat Murray in convincing style and it wasn’t akin to one of the other classics that the two players have had over the years.
He posted on Murray’s message on Instagram: “LEGEND Sir Andy.”
The former Roland Garros champion was followed by Verdasco who happened to have many a classic match with Murray when he was playing.
He said: “Eres MUY GRANDE @andymurray! What an honour it has been to share the court with you so many times.
Murray in the mix for Britain’s greatest-ever sportsman
It’s easy to fight a case for Murray being the greatest ever when it comes to British sport.
The three-time Grand Slam champion would have won more major titles had he not lived in an era where Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic had reigned supreme.
Murray has won 46 titles in total and he has reached no fewer than nine Grand Slam finals.
More mainstream sports will naturally boast that they have had better at their sport than Murray but we just think Murray has done so much for his sport.
He gets our vote for greatest ever and when it bows out of the Olympics it will be an emotional moment for him.
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