“I don’t know how many other players have had that sort of impact maybe on the game” – Murray on Serena Williams

Serena Williams‘ retirement has been the talk of the tennis world ever since she announced the same early last week, with fellow players being asked their thoughts about Williams in their recent press conferences.

On Wednesday, it was the turn of Andy Murray to share his thoughts about the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, whom he partnered in the mixed doubles event at Wimbledon in 2019.

Speaking in Cincinnati where he lost in the second round of the Western & Southern Open to fellow Brit Cameron Norrie in three sets, 35-year-old Murray, who now plays with a metal hip, said he was sad to see Serena Williams finally hang up her racquets for good but says a lot of people saw it coming.

“It’s obviously sad, but then, it happens to all players at some stage. She’s not played that much the last few years. So it’s been coming. But when you hear the news, it’s always sad when one of the great players (retires)– because I think, as well, like they don’t seem normal, those players, so you kind of expect them to be able to go on forever. So when they stop, it’s obviously a sad day,” Murray said.

Murray said he hoped people would get behind Serena Williams as she plays her final tournaments, calling the 41-year-old American legend one of the most impactful players in the history of the sport.

“Hopefully the next 10 days to two, three weeks, whatever it is, you know that her career is really well-celebrated and you don’t want it to necessarily be a sad moment, like it’s probably a time to celebrate her career and everything that she’s done for the sport, because it’s been immense. I don’t know how many other players have had that sort of impact maybe on the game. Maybe Billie Jean King arguably. But, she’s been great for tennis, and like I said, it will be sad. But, let’s hope everyone sort of gets behind her and celebrates her career the next few weeks,” Murray continued.

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