Andy Murray’s defiance finally ran out as his career ended with defeat alongside Dan Evans in the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s doubles.
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 with a huge heart, 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.
And so concludes one of the great British sporting innings, with the 37-year-old breaking the mould by winning two Wimbledon titles and a US Open crown as well as starring for his country at the Olympics and in Davis Cup.
Murray and Evans’ gleeful delight in their dramatic two opening victories at Roland Garros, saving seven match points along the way, had been one of the stories of the Games. But a third act proved well beyond them despite some more late resistance.
After Evans’ final return dropped just long, he and Murray embraced before the Scot took centre stage to chants of ‘Andy, Andy’, waving to all sides of Court Suzanne Lenglen and then leaving the court for the final time.
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.
Arriving at the point where he was ready to accept the end has been understandably difficult for a man with competitive drive not just at his core but in every fibre of his body.
However, over the past few months Murray has made peace with the idea it is time for a new phase of his life, revolving initially around his young family and the golf course.
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.
Twenty six days ago, Murray was bidding an emotional farewell 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.
And the manner of his two victories have given him a memorable farewell, even if it was not the fairy-tale ending he had hoped for.
Fritz and Paul are both top-class singles players – Paul played Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals earlier – but inexperienced in doubles.
However, they were soon all over the British duo’s serve, with Evans and Murray both broken as the Americans raced into a 4-0 lead.
The crowd was dominated by British fans hoping for another miracle but they needed something to cheer and Murray and Evans were unable to provide it until they were again match point down.
This time the situation was almost hopeless but they saved one match point with Paul serving at 5-2, eventually breaking at the fifth opportunity, and forced Fritz to serve it out.
If the world number 12 felt the pressure of the occasion, he did not show it, though, his big serve ensuring this time it really was the end.
That ends British interest at Roland Garros, with Katie Boulter and Heather Watson having earlier lost their women’s doubles quarter-final 6-3 6-1 to Italian third seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini.
Boulter was looking for a perfect 28th birthday present but Errani and Paolini were French Open finalists earlier this summer and were a class above.
Boulter said afterwards she and Watson already have Los Angeles 2028 in their diaries after forming an effective team, adding: “I’m super proud.
“I think we’ve had a great time and I really do cherish these moments the most, playing with that flag is something you can’t compete with and I don’t take that for granted ever. It’s the reason I play tennis. I won’t forget it.”