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How 2024 Marked An End Of An Era In Tennis
2024 saw tennis greats such as Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray bid adieu to the sport, leaving Novak Djokovic as the only player standing from the original ‘Big Four’ who dominated men’s tennis over the last two decades.
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2024 saw tennis greats such as Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray bid adieu to the sport, leaving Novak Djokovic as the only player standing from the original ‘Big Four’ who dominated men’s tennis over the last two decades.
Murray made an early exit in the first round of the Australian Open in January, then sustained injuries in his left ankle in March. However, opted against going under the knife.
The Brit returned in time for the French Open but bowed out for the campaign in the first round itself. The three-time Grand Slam champion was then compelled to withdraw from Wimbledon due to more injuries.
Murray featured at Wimbledon for the last time in the men’s doubles with brother Jamie where they lost in the first round. He represented the UK at the Paris Olympics in the men’s doubles at the Olympics with Dan Evans reaching the quarter-finals.
The 37-year-old then decided to hang in his boots.
Rafael Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam champion, also announced his retirement towards the end of 2024 after struggling with injuries throughout the year.
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The Spaniad pulled out of the Australian Open and lost in the first round at the French Open, where he has won a record 14 times.
Nadal then had to skip Wimbledon, before meeting his great rival Djokovic in the second round of the men’s singles at the Paris Olympics. He lost to the Serb and, like Murray, played the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles with Carlos Alcaraz.
The 38-year-old decided to call it time on his illustrious career and announced he would retire after the Davis Cup Final. Nadal appeared for Spain in the opener which was his last professional match. He lost in that match and his country eventually exited at the first stage of the competition.
Austria’s Dominic Thiem is another player who bid adieu to tennis in 2024. The 30-year-old former US Open champion retired at the Vienna Open this season, at his home tournament.
Two-time Grand Slam champion,Garbine Muguruza and Camila Giorgi, who won four singles titles, also played their last games in 2024.
Also Read: Top 5 Tennis Players with the Highest ATP Prize Money in 2024
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