Andy Murray ends career after Olympic doubles defeat to Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz

Murray, celebrated as one of Britain's most distinguished athletes for his two Wimbledon victories and his ascent to world number one, had previously announced his intention to retire following the Games.

After opting out of the singles competition, he and Evans progressed through two rounds of the doubles event, overcoming multiple match points in each match, which sparked hopes for a triumphant conclusion to his career.

During their match at Court Suzanne-Lenglen on Thursday, they once again saved a match point against the American pair, but ultimately, the contest concluded with Fritz and Paul emerging victorious, thwarting Murray's pursuit of a fourth Olympic medal.

Murray's previous Olympic achievements include singles gold in 2012 and 2016, as well as a mixed doubles silver medal in 2012.

As the match concluded, Murray received a standing ovation while acknowledging the crowd at Court Suzanne-Lenglen, with Fritz and Paul joining in the tribute. Evans displayed visible emotion, and Murray was seen with tears in his eyes as he departed the court following his final match.

"Andy is the greatest tennis player ever to come from this country and a giant of British sport," stated Scott Lloyd, chief executive of the LTA. "His contributions to the sport are monumental and have provided us with countless moments of pride."

For the past twenty years, Murray has been the leading figure in British tennis and was a prominent member of the sport's Big Four, alongside Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

His initial major achievement occurred when he defeated Federer to secure the Olympic gold medal in 2012, shortly after losing to the Swiss player in the Wimbledon final. Later that same year, he emerged victorious at the U.S. Open.

The following year, in 2013, he put an end to Britain's 77-year-long wait for a Wimbledon men's singles champion by triumphing over Djokovic - a match that drew in 17.3 million viewers on British television.

Three years later, he claimed his second Wimbledon title and finished the year as the top-ranked player in the world.

In 2015, he guided Britain to victory in the Davis Cup and became the sole player, male or female, to win Olympic singles gold medals in consecutive Games.

Following a series of injuries, Murray underwent a hip resurfacing surgery in 2019 to salvage his career.

Despite facing challenges in returning to his previous form, Murray's determination has remained evident, even though he has only managed to secure one ATP title in addition to the 45 he had won prior to his injuries.