“At the same level as us,” Rafael Nadal pays heartfelt tribute to Andy Murray as Briton plays his final career tournament at 2024 Paris Olympics

Murray recently announced that he will retire from the sport after the Summer Games.

“At the same level as us,” Rafael Nadal pays heartfelt tribute to Andy Murray as Briton plays his final career tournament at 2024 Paris Olympics

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray during draw ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympics (via Imago)

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has paid a heartfelt tribute to Andy Murray, who will retire from the sport after the 2024 Paris Olympics. He hailed the 37-year-old for his illustrious career and claimed that Murray was at the same level as the Big Three.

Murray won only three Grand Slam titles, while Nadal won 22, Roger Federer 20, and Novak Djokovic 24. The Spaniard believes that the Briton would have won many more titles if he hadn’t competed in one of the most difficult eras in tennis.

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Andy had an amazing career. He had a lot of finals. He was an amazing player that probably played in a difficult moment of the history of tennis because he shared the tour at the prime time of Novak, Roger and myself. He was, in my feeling, the one that was at the same level as us in general terms.
Rafael Nadal said (as per The Guardian)

Despite having fewer titles, Nadal said that he rates Murray very highly and that had the same fighting spirit as him, Federer, and Djokovic.

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In terms of victories, it’s true that he achieved less. In terms of level of tennis, in terms of holding mentally the winning spirit week after week, he was the only one that was very close to being at the same level as us.
Rafael Nadal added

It is worth mentioning that while Murray won only three Grand Slam titles, he made it to nine Grand Slam finals. The Briton also stacked up as many as 739 wins in his career. Apart from three Majors, Murray has won three Olympic medals (two gold medals in singles and one silver medal in doubles) over the years.

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Andy Murray looking to take his Olympic medal tally to four

At the final career tournament, Andy Murray is hoping to make the most of the opportunity and clinch a medal. While the 37-year-old has pulled out of the singles event, he has a shot at the doubles gold medal alongside his partner Dan Evans.

Andy Murray Paris Olympics
Andy Murray practicing at the Paris Olympics (via Imago)

Murray might even face Rafael Nadal if everything happens as predicted. The Spaniard has paired up with Carlos Alcaraz at the Games and is already through to the second round. Meanwhile, Murray and his partner will open their campaign against the Japanese pair of Taro Daniel and Kai Nishikori on Sunday (July 28).

It is to be seen if Murray and Evans manage to trump their Japanese opponents. The last time Murray played a doubles match (at 2024 Wimbledon), he was knocked out in the first round.

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