Roy Keane delivers BRUTAL verdict on Andy Murray’s Wimbledon farewell

• Andy Murray is set to retire from tennis after the Paris Olympics this summer
• The double Wimbledon champion said an emotional farewell to SW19 last week
• Several tributes have since poured in for the British tennis icon in recent days 

Roy Keane has given his verdict on Andy Murray’s pending retirement from tennis after his emotional farewell to Wimbledon last week.

Murray, 37, is set to bring the curtain down on his decorated career after the Paris Olympics having struggled with injuries over recent years.

The two-time Wimbledon champion was hoping to play in the singles at the All England Club this year, but was unable to prove his fitness after spinal cyst surgery last month.

However, the 37-year-old agreed to play with his brother Jamie in the doubles, while he was also set to take to the court in the mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu, before she pulled out due to injury.

Unfortunately for the Murray brothers, they lost 6-7 (6-8) 4-6 to Australian pair Rinky Hijikata and John Peers in the first round on Centre Court last Thursday, but Murray was honoured afterwards in what was an emotional Wimbledon send-off.

Murray has been hailed across the sporting world in recent days but Keane wasn’t feeling particularly sentimental as he gave his views on the British tennis icon.

‘Andy Murray retiring from tennis isn’t sad news at all,’ he told the Stick To Football, brought to you by Sky Bet. 

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‘He’s 37-years-old, had a brilliant career but had plenty of injuries, so he should count his blessings that he’s had such a successful career.

‘He must have been crying… although it’s okay to cry. That’s not sad news. It’s good news. He’s got a lovely family. Good luck to him.

‘He had a brilliant career. They talk about him playing in a great era… we were up against the great Barcelona. He could have been with Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe!’

Murray won three Grand Slams across his career, while he also picked up two Gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

However, most impressively, Murray competed in the upper echelons of the game during an era of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

And, despite Keane’s lack of compassion for Murray’s retirement, his fellow Stick to Football pundits Ian Wright, Jill Scott and Gary Neville were much sadder about Murray’s departure from the game.

‘Andy Murray is one of our sporting greats for what he had to go through,’ Wright said.

‘For him to make it in tennis, in our country, and in the same era as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, you’ve got to give him major credit. He had a brilliant career and he’s one of our all-time greats.

‘I don’t need to be a tennis fan to understand and appreciate how good someone is.

‘With the injuries he’s had, it’s great to see how successful he’s been, especially to make it through in such a strong era of tennis.’

Roy Keane and Ian Wright were speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.