The British tennis great announced prior to this summer's Games that it would be his last tournament.

Twenty-one years after his first professional match and 19 since he announced his talent to the world at Wimbledon as a wild-haired teenager, Murray's hopes of a medal-winning swansong evaporated in a 6-2 6-4 loss to American third seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.

Murray retires after winning three Grand Slam singles titles, two Olympic Gold medals and one Davis cup during arguably the most competitive era in men's tennis.

He also achieved a world number one ranking.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer listed some of Murray's career achievements this evening before adding: "But more than that, thanks @andy_murray for two decades of phenomenal entertainment and sportsmanship. A true British great."

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney said: "Sir Andy Murray is Scotland's greatest ever sportsman, and his achievements during one of the toughest eras in tennis history will mark him down as a true sporting legend."

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has also paid tribute to Murray's "incredible career" following his retirement, while the Queen's Club in London has announced centre court will be renamed in his honour from next year.

Just a few weeks before the Olympics, Murray's Wimbledon career came to an end after he was first knocked out of the men's doubles with brother Jamie, and then his mixed partner Emma Raducanu pulled out after suffering a stiff wrist.

In an emotional farewell, Murray said goodbye to Wimbledon on a packed Centre Court with his brother by his side and his family and friends in the stands.

That would have been a fitting way to end his career but Murray, who has always relished team competitions, wanted a final tilt at the Olympics, the stage where he has managed to upstage his big rivals Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic by winning back-to-back singles golds.

Murray has been battling his body since the hip problems that nearly ended his career five-and-a-half years ago first incapacitated him in 2017.

There have been high points since, with an emotional final tour-level title in Antwerp in 2019, success at a lower level on the British grass last summer in front of his family, and a few memorable grand slam wins.

But the return to the real top of the game that he craved never arrived and Murray's frustration with his own limitations and the forcing hand of time reached breaking point.

Few people doubt that the 37-year-old will find a role back in tennis, with Davis Cup captain an obvious move at some point, while he spoke earlier this week of wanting to be involved at the next Olympics in Los Angeles.

And the manner of his two victories in the Paris Olympics have given him a memorable farewell, even if it was not the fairy-tale ending he had hoped for.

Tennis icon's illustrious career

Murray, who was born in Glasgow and grew up in Dunblane, Stirling, won gold at the London Olympics in 2012, before winning his first of three grand slams at the US Open the following month.

He became the first British Wimbledon men's singles champion in 77 years when he won at the All England Club in 2013, before going on to win the tournament a second time in 2016.

Murray then became the only man to win two Olympic gold medals in the singles when he topped the podium in Rio in 2016.

At the start of 2024 he indicated that he planned to finish at some point over the summer but had been vague as to the exact date until he made his announcement last week ahead of the Olympics.