Andy Murray’s heartfelt goodbye during the farewells of 2024

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Murray’s heartfelt farewell among 2024’s goodbyes

ATPTour.com begins its reflection on the retirements of 2024

December 07, 2024

As we celebrate the conclusion of another exciting season, ATPTour.com is launching our yearly ‘Best Of’ series, which will highlight the most captivating rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets, and more.

Today, we reflect on some of the prominent figures who finished their playing journeys this year. Andy Murray is featured in Part 1, while Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal will appear in Part 2 on Sunday.

Andy Murray
The Scotsman exited in a manner that was quintessentially Murray. Competing in doubles at the Paris Olympics, the two-time singles gold medalist partnered with Daniel Evans. They triumphed in their first match against Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori by salvaging five match points from a 4/9 deficit in the Match Tie-break to secure a win.

Murray and Evans were not finished with their thrilling comebacks. They further extended former World No. 1 Murray’s career by saving two match points against Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in the second round before being edged out in the quarter-finals. After each victory, Murray celebrated as if he had just captured the gold medal, showcasing just how much the sport has always meant to the 46-time tour-level champion.

Against all odds, #SirAndy 😤@andy_murray pic.twitter.com/zKm0GUDJXO

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 2, 2024

Murray spent 41 weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, earned three major championships, and amassed 739 singles victories in his illustrious career. A pivotal moment occurred in 2012 when he won the Olympic gold medal on the Wimbledon grass.

Latter that summer, he achieved his first major title at the 2012 US Open by defeating Novak Djokovic in a five-set final. The four hours and 54-minute contest is tied for the second-longest US Open final in history.

The following year, Murray ended Great Britain’s 77-year drought for a home men’s singles champion at Wimbledon. This day was described by the BBC as the moment that “turned Murray into a Wimbledon champion and a national treasure.” Winning Wimbledon wasn’t his only significant achievement for Great Britain; in 2015, he led the British team to its first Davis Cup triumph since 1936.

The 37-year-old will be celebrated for a career filled with historic milestones, attained against some of the greatest players in tennis history.

“I gave as much as I could to my career,” Murray expressed at the Paris Olympics. “There are certainly things I reflect on and wish I could have approached differently, but it’s been a challenging time to capture major titles in this sport with the players that preceded me. I take pride in my accomplishments, my efforts, and I now look forward to extended rest.” Read Murray Longform Tribute.

Steve Johnson
The California native Johnson made a name for himself as a reliable force on the ATP Tour with his powerful forehand, potent backhand slice, and competitive nature. He turned pro in 2012 after leading the University of Southern California to four consecutive NCAA team championships and winning the singles title twice, concluding his college career with 72 straight singles victories.

Johnson went on to win four tour-level singles titles and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 21 in 2016. He partnered with countryman Jack Sock during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where they secured the bronze medal. From 2014 to 2018, Johnson consistently finished inside the year-end Top 50 and was always a formidable challenge for any competitor. He retired surrounded by friends and family in Indian Wells.

“As I reflect on my experiences, I feel a deep sense of pride for what I achieved. I believe I did everything within my power to address errors both on and off the court. I feel I explored every opportunity. For me, that’s the most significant aspect,” Johnson remarked.

“I don’t wish to look back with regrets or contemplate what I could have done differently. Hence, I feel immense pride for my journey. Celebrating my career and accomplishments is a joy. However, knowing that my wife and daughters may not remember my tennis days, but they’ll see the tributes, truly means the world to me.” Read Johnson Retirement Feature.

Ivo Karlovic
Standing tall at 6’11” (2.11m), Karlovic was known for one of the most powerful serves in tennis history. The Croatian ranks second on the all-time Aces leaderboard, having delivered 13,728 aces, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Only John Isner has more (Ace count records date back to 1991).

Karlovic concluded his career as an eight-time tour-level singles victor, having reached a career-high No. 14 in 2008. He made his majors debut at Wimbledon in 2003, where he defeated the defending champion Lleyton Hewitt on his way to his only Grand Slam quarter-final.

Karlovic announced his retirement in February, having not played since October 2021. “I’ve enjoyed a rewarding, unconventional, and lengthy career that started from very humble origins, particularly as a tennis player,” Karlovic noted. Read Karlovic’s ‘My Point’.

Ivo Karlovic, John Millman, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi, Joao Sousa and Dominic Thiem during the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals. Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour

Joao Sousa
Sousa’s successes made him a celebrated figure in his native Portugal. The 35-year-old is the highest-ranked Portuguese player in PIF ATP Rankings history (No. 28, 2016).

In 2013, Sousa became the first Portuguese player to clinch an ATP Tour title (Kuala Lumpur). He didn’t stop there, securing four tour-level trophies and frequently challenging the top players in the sport, achieving five Top 10 victories. He advanced to the fourth round at the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Wimbledon. Sousa fittingly concluded his career amid local fans in Estoril this year.

“I couldn’t ask for a more perfect ending. I believe this was the best location I could wish for to conclude my career,” Sousa remarked. “Winning here in 2018 was a very special moment, with the crowd’s unwavering support throughout the week. It was incredible to feel the love and backing from my fans in Portugal.” Read Sousa Retirement Feature.

John Millman
Millman’s career took him on a rollercoaster of emotions over 14 years, culminating at the Australian Open. The Australian’s notable journey included one ATP Tour title, a shocking win against Roger Federer on his way to the 2018 US Open quarter-finals, and maximizing his potential despite battling multiple shoulder surgeries.

“I hope the audience appreciated the journey and recognized that I gave my all. If they can relate to that experience, then I feel I’ve succeeded,” the former World No. 33 shared. Read Millman Retirement Feature. 

Federico Delbonis
Delbonis was a challenging opponent, effectively utilizing his left-handed style and capturing fans’ attention with his unique serving technique and high toss. A two-time tour-level champion, the Argentine reached a career-high No. 33 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016. He retired in January.

“Today marks the conclusion of one of the most enriching journeys of my life,” Delbonis stated. “It’s the end of a chapter in which I learned to grow as both an athlete and as a person. I have cherished and unforgettable moments both on and off the court.” Read Delbonis Retirement Feature.

Ryan Harrison
Harrison’s game was just as dynamic as his competitive spirit. He broke into the Top 40 in the PIF ATP Rankings and also achieved a doubles career-high of No. 16. “I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had a dream and the chance to fulfill it,” Harrison expressed in a retirement post on social media in January.

In 2017, Harrison was at the peak of his tennis prowess. He secured his sole ATP Tour singles title in Memphis and teamed with Michael Venus to win the Roland Garros doubles championship. That year, Harrison and Venus qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals and reached the semi-finals. Read Harrison Retirement Feature.