The six matches that define Andy Murray's Wimbledon legacy: From teenage wildcard to ending 77 years of hurt, as the British superstar calls time on his SW19 singles career after pulling out with a back injury

Andy Murray's Wimbledon singles career is over after he pulled out on TuesdayMurray withdrew from his first round match just over a week after back surgeryMail Sport has looked back at the six matches that define his Wimbledon legacy 

Andy Murray's Wimbledon singles career is over after he withdrew from his first round match on Tuesday morning.

The 37-year-old had been due to play Tomas Machac, but opted to pull out just over a week after undergoing surgery on a spinal cyst.

He is still due to play in the doubles with his brother Jamie, as he aims to thrill the SW19 crowd one last time.

But he will not be seen again in a singles match on Centre Court as he plans to retire after this summer's Olympics in Paris.

As Murray’s Wimbledon singles career comes to an end, Mail Sport looks back at six matches that have ensured he will forever hold a place in All England Club folklore.

Andy Murray withdrew from his first round match at Wimbledon on Tuesday

He failed to recover in time after suffering a back injury at Queen's and undergoing surgery on a spinal cyst

1. 2005 third round: David Nalbandian bt Andy Murray 6-7, 1-6, 6-0, 6-4, 6-1

Murray made his Wimbledon debut as an 18-year-old wildcard, the world No 312.

He beat No 14 seed Radek Stepanek in the second round and then took a two-set lead over 2002 finalist Nalbandian of Argentina. But in his first five-set match, his body let him down and cramps gripped his legs.

But we had seen ample evidence an incredible talent was emerging.

Andy Murray ultimately fell short against former finalist David Nalbandian in 2002, but still did more than enough to show he could become a future superstar

2. 2008 fourth round: Murray bt Richard Gasquet 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4

The moment Murray mania began: two sets down, the 21-year-old is leading 6-3 in a third-set tiebreak he had to win.

Gasquet hits an angled volley which Murray reads like a book, scampers yards outside the tramlines and flicks for a winner. He runs so wide his momentum carries him on to the low wall that separates him from the crowd and for a second he balances there, inches from the fans, screaming into their faces as they scream back.

The camera cuts to then-girlfriend Kim, whooping and laughing with unbridled joy.

In that instant, excitement about Murray turned to hysteria. It never felt in doubt he would win the match from there and he celebrated by pulling up his right sleeve and flexing a bulging bicep.

That was a riposte to critics who, ever since he cramped against Nalbandian, accused him of not being physically durable enough; even – strange to think of it now – of not putting in the hard yards. Safe to say no one has questioned his dedication since.

Murray came from two sets down to beat Richard Gasquet in the fourth round back in 2008

His mum Judy (left) and then-girlfriend Kim (right) cheered him on to a stunning victory

3. 2012 final: Roger Federer bt Murray 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–4

In Murray’s fourth Grand Slam final and first at Wimbledon, he was once again outclassed by Federer.

‘This isn’t going to be easy,’ he said on court to Sue Barker after the match - and then came the tears. Murray was still a strangely polarising figure at the time but those tears drew viewers in and turned many naysayers around.

And from the ashes a phoenix arose: Murray came back to the All England Club a month later to avenge his defeat by beating Federer to win Olympic gold, and one month after that claimed a first major at the US Open.

Murray could not hold back the tears after losing to Roger Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final

A month later he got his revenge by beating Federer to Olympic gold at the same venue

4. 2013 final: Murray bt Novak Djokovic 6–4, 7–5, 6–4

It took a nerve-rending, 12-minute final game but Murray beat his nemesis to end a 77-year wait for a British winner of the men’s singles.

Surely his greatest ever performance, 26-year-old Murray was the first player to beat Djokovic in straight sets in a Slam final.

Kim’s hands are on her head in ecstatic disbelief, Judy cries on the shoulder of Leon Smith, Murray’s first mentor – and is that a quiver in the lip of ‘Old Stoneface’ Ivan Lendl? Truly a day of miracles.

Murray beat his nemesis Novak Djokovic in 2013 after a mammoth 12-minute final game

His epic victory ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles champion at Wimbledon

5. 2016 final: Murray bt Milos Raonic 6–4, 7–6, 7–6

In his first and only Grand Slam final against someone other than Federer or Djokovic, this never looked in doubt.

Murray spiked the Canadian’s big guns, including winning one return point off a 147mph serve.

This was an athlete at the peak of his powers, a man primed to add many more Grand Slams to his collection – but it was not to be.

Murray claimed his second Wimbledon title in 2016 after downing the big-serving Milos Raonic

6. 2023 second round: Stefanos Tsitsipas bt Murray 7-6, 6-7, 4-6 7-6, 6-4

No one knew it at the time but this will go down in the history books as Murray’s final singles match at Wimbledon.

The years since that second title were torturous, as his troublesome hip gave way. But there was some optimism coming into last year’s Championships and Murray was leading by two sets to one when play was halted for the night.

It was a different match once play resumed next morning and the Greek edged through. But it was a high-quality, razor-tight match against a top-class opponent. In hindsight, a fitting finale.

Murray lost an epic five-setter to Stefanos Tsitsipas last year in a match played across two days

It would prove to be his final Wimbledon singles match after he withdrew from this year's tournament