Andy Murray ‘throws huge retirement party’ at £5m mansion reveals fellow tennis star
ANDY Murray threw an intimate retirement party for 30 close friends and family at his £5m mansion just one week after retiring from tennis, a fellow court star has revealed.
Wimbledon legend Tim Henman was one of the lucky guests at the fancy bash at the Scots’ Surrey residence where he lives with his wife Kim and their four children.
Murray, 37, and doubles partner Dan Evans suffered defeat in the quarter-finals at the Olympics with the pair losing to Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul after an incredible run at Roland Garros.
The defeat brought an end to three-time Grand Slam champion Murray’s storied professional run.
After the magical run at the Paris 2024 games, there were suggestions that Murray may have some regret over retiring.
But Henman, 49, told the Express, that Murray is at peace with his decision and dismissed the notion he may have regret after revealing he had partied with the sporting legend after he returned from France.
He said: “I actually saw him on Friday, he had a sort of a retirement bash for about 30 people at his house with Kim and his family.
“He was in great form there and I think he appreciates that this is absolutely the right time for him to stop.
“He’s overcome so many challenges physically over the last few years and hopefully now, there’s a time for him to reflect a little bit and look back on what a phenomenal career he’s had, the achievements and tournaments he won, everything that goes with it.
“[It’s] not only time to reflect, but to relax and spend time with his family because obviously the life of a professional tennis player is a massive commitment and it’s really 24/7 with the tournaments, training, travel, it’s on the road so much.
“Hopefully he can enjoy spending time with his kids.”
Murray, who led Great Britain to an historic Davis Cup victory in 2015, then won his second Wimbledon crown in 2016 and followed it up by becoming the only man to win two Olympic gold medals in the singles when he topped the podium in Rio in 2016.
But a chronic hip injury derailed his career and he needed a metal plate inserted into the joint in 2019.
The final few years of his career were played against a backdrop of no longer being physically capable of achieving the level which saw him become the world number one at the end of 2016.
Replacing the Scot in Britain’s next batch of players will be a difficult task, with Jack Draper, 22, being the highest-ranking men’s star ranking men’s player in the world.
But, Henman, the former British No 1 who reached the semi-finals of a Major six times, said it would be wrong to paint Draper as “the next Murray.”
He added: “There will only ever be one Andy Murray.
“We’ve got some great up and coming players, on the men’s side, Jack Draper is at the top of the list.
“But for Draper, it’s not about trying to be Andy Murray, it’s about trying to be the best version of himself. You look at the way his game is progressing and the improvements he’s made.
“He’s won a Tour title this year. He’s still very raw, he’s a long way off being a finished article but he’s already in the top 30 in the world, hopefully he can have a big finish to the year and no reason why he can’t finish in the top 20.”