Sports
Andy Murray Announces Retirement After 2024 Paris Olympics
Andy Murray has officially announced that he will retire from professional tennis following the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 37-year-old tennis legend plans to compete in both singles and doubles events, marking his fifth Olympic appearance.
In a heartfelt message on X, Murray wrote, “Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament. Competing for Team GB has been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get to do it one final time!”
Murray’s Olympic journey began in 2008 at the Beijing Games, where he faced a first-round exit against Lu Yen-hsun. He redeemed himself in spectacular fashion at the London 2012 Olympics, winning gold by defeating Roger Federer just weeks after a tough Wimbledon final loss to the same opponent. He made history at the Rio 2016 Olympics by becoming the first male tennis player to win two Olympic singles titles, triumphing over Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro.
Throughout his illustrious career, Murray has claimed three Grand Slam titles and underwent career-saving hip surgery in January 2019. The two-time Wimbledon champion made a final competitive appearance at SW19 earlier this month, partnering with his brother Jamie in doubles, where they were unfortunately knocked out in the first round.
A recent back injury had put Murray’s Wimbledon participation in jeopardy, leading to his withdrawal from the singles event at the last moment. He had planned to compete in mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu, but she had to pull out due to a wrist injury concern.
Reflecting on his career, Murray expressed his love for the sport, stating, “It is hard because I want to keep playing, but I can’t. Physically it’s too tough now. I want to play forever. I love the sport.” He acknowledged the challenge of knowing when to stop, a skill that every professional athlete must eventually master.
Earlier this year, Murray mentioned that he wasn’t planning to play much beyond the summer but expressed a strong desire to compete in Paris. Dan Evans, the British number three, will join Murray in the doubles event.
The tennis events at the Paris Olympics will take place at Roland Garros, starting on July 27 and concluding on August 4, with medal rounds scheduled from August 2. Murray’s final appearance promises to be a fitting farewell to a remarkable career, filled with historic achievements and unforgettable moments.
Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.
Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.
Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.
In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.
Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.
The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.
As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.
Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.
Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.
The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
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