Clare Balding breaks down in tears after Andy Murray’s Olympic exit

Clare Balding was reduced to tears live on television after Andy Murray‘s stunning tennis career came to an end on Thursday night.

The three-time Grand Slam winner and former World No 1 was beaten in straight sets along with Dan Evans in the Olympic tennis doubles competition by USA’s Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz.

Murray told reporters before the tournament it would be the last professional of his career, as he plans for life after tennis.

And his career was finally brought to an heartbreaking end in Paris, and it all appeared to be all too much for BBC presenter Balding.

Speaking on the BBC’s broadcast of the match, Balding said: ‘My word, hasn’t he shown us in the three matches he’s played here, everything he is about. It isn’t over until it’s over. 

‘And now sadly, it terms of a professional playing career, that is it, it is now over. And all we can say is thank you, thank you.’

There was then a brief pause in the studio, which led to Balding to well up before being comforted by her co-presenter Rebecca Adlington.

She said: ‘Rebecca [Adlington], say something,’ to which she replied: ‘I’ve passed all the tears onto you. Don’t, you’re going to make me cry.’

Balding was then handed a tissue by one of the BBC’s production team in what was a clearly emotional moment for the veteran broadcaster. 

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.’