British doubles legend Jamie Murray retires from tennis

Jamie Murray, who became the first British doubles player to rise to world number one, has announced his retirement from tennis.

The seven time Grand Slam champion, who had not played since last August's US Open, said he was "excited to enter the real world".

"My tennis journey comes to an end after 36 years," Murray, 40, posted on Instagram.

"I feel very fortunate and privileged for all the amazing experiences this great sport has given me.

"Thanks Mum, Dad, Andy, Ale, Alan, Louis and Thomas for all your incredible support, efforts and sacrifices throughout my career that allowed me to achieve everything I could in the game.

"For everybody else that's helped and supported me - I appreciate all of you!"

Murray won two of his 34 doubles titles with his younger brother Andy, and they teamed up to devastating effect as GB won the Davis Cup in 2015 for the first time in 79 years.

The brothers often considered watching each other in big finals to be far too stressful, but Andy did appear in Jamie's coaching box at the 2016 Australian Open to take photos of his brother's first Grand Slam men's doubles title.

It was 01:00 and Andy was due to play Novak Djokovic in the singles final in Melbourne just 18 hours later.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Jamie enquired, as he accepted the trophy with the Brazilian Bruno Soares.

The two added the US Open title in the summer and finished the year as the world's number one pair - just as his brother did in singles.

Murray also won five mixed doubles titles, including two at Wimbledon - with Jelena Jankovic in 2007 and Martina Hingis 10 years later.

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