‘You could feel his pain’, prayers encouraged as Andy Murray announces retirement

He fought back tears as he announced he would retire this year, possibly after his next match.

He admitted difficulties in playing with a recurring hip problem but said he hopes to make Wimbledon in the summer, though he could not confirm that would be the case.

He’s been hailed as a “legend” by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon while rival Rafa Nadal says the Scot doesn’t know how much he’ll be missed.

Sports chaplain Carolyn Skinner who runs an outreach ministry at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships was one of millions who’ve watched his difficult press conference this morning,

Speaking to Premier, she said: “Watching it was heartbreaking – you could see how much it meant for him.

“Like many others I’ve grown to love watching him and seeing his personality come through.

“You could feel his pain, that heartache.”

Calling on Christians to pray for him and other sports stars, she said: “It’s good to pray for people in the sporting world and particularly for their sense of identity and purpose.

“Obviously their sport is incredibly important to them, but pray they will discover who they are in Christ and that God has a purpose for them which is bigger.”

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