Andy Murray joins Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal on exclusive list after playing 1000th ATP career match

Andy Murray will face Australia’s Jordan Thompson in the second round at the Queen’s Club Championships.

Andy Murray has become only the fifth active player to play 1000 or more matches on the ATP Tour. The Brit completed his historic feat on Tuesday when he defeated Australia’s Alexie Popyrin in the first round at the 2024 Queen’s Club Championships. Murray recorded the victory 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 51 minutes. In the next round, he will face another Australian, Jordan Thompson.

Before the match, the 37-year-old was on a four-match winless streak. Murray said in his on-court interview, “I didn’t realize, but my mum told me before the match that this was my 1000th match on the tour. A lot of matches and a lot of wear and tear in the body and it is not easy, but I managed to push through.”

However, with the win, he has joined the exclusive list of active players who have competed in 1,000 ATP Tour-level matches. The list includes the names of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco and Richard Gasquet.

1324 – @DjokerNole 1300 – @RafaelNadal 1006 – @FerVerdasco 1004 – @richardgasquet1 1000 – @andy_murray A milestone moment for Murray as the fifth active male to compete in a 1000th tour-level match@QueensTennis | #cinchChampionships pic.twitter.com/qKsLuFvEQ7

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 18, 2024

Andy Murray has been the most successful player in the Queen’s Club Championships’ history. The Brit has won five singles and one doubles title at the ATP 500 grass court event.

Earlier this week, the 37-year-old announced that he’d be retiring from professional tennis at either Wimbledon or the Paris Olympics. Murray is a two-time Wimbledon champion and he’s also the only tennis player in history to defend the Olympic gold medal.

Also Read: ‘He was part of this Big Four era’ – Stan Wawrinka lavishes praise on Andy Murray

He said (via BBC Sport), “I don’t think so [on playing the US Open or the Davis Cup]. Probably if I was going to finish my career, I would rather finish at Wimbledon or an Olympic Games – to me that would probably be more fitting. I’ve had amazing experiences and memories from Wimbledon, but also being part of British Olympics teams.”

However, Andy Murray has been named in Great Britain’s tennis squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics alongside Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie and Daniel Evans.

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