Often there is a misconception when the world's top athletes are seen glittered in fame, success, and money capable of lasting two lifetimes. A lavish style of constant media attention and popularity are the circumstances that most ordinary people dream of experiencing.
But beneath all those perks appears a unique journey to arrive at the top. For some, it has entailed spurts of having to conquer adversity and defy all odds.
Andy Murray, one of the greatest players of his generation, understands the rollercoaster of emotions and the taxing sacrifices. His story has been far from clear-cut.
Last week, the 37-year-old played his final match in his home Slam of Wimbledon in the men's doubles alongside brother Jamie on Centre Court - farewelled in front of current and former legends along with his family in an emotional tribute.
Due to wrist soreness, Emma Raducanu has opted to skip mixed doubles participation with Murray, meaning he will not grace the turf of Wimbledon ever again, presenting the perfect time to look back on a brilliant career with no shortage of bumps along the way.
In 1996, he was scarred for life when he survived a primary school shooting massacre in Scotland which resulted in Britain's deadliest mass shooting, forced to hide under the tables in a separate classroom. It took considerable time to come to terms with the tragic events that unfolded.
From a young age, coaches and experts uncovered Murray's gifted talent on the tennis court. In hindsight, moving to Spain as a teenager to develop his craft was the best thing that happened to the Scot - learning to dig deep on the clay and hold his own.
When he broke into the main tour and climbed the rankings, the next challenge was figuring out how to sustain competitiveness with the 'big three' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
From his early to mid-20s, to describe it as a challenge was an understatement. A US Open final defeat against Federer in 2008 and five consecutive Australian Open losses in the decider against Djokovic in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2016 were painful, yet valuable learning experiences.
The talent was clear for all to see, but Murray was forced to push the extra mile and put in the hard yards to one day conquer those legends of his generation to stay 'relevant,' even if that meant fighting through pain.
In 2013, a weight that only he can describe was finally lifted off his shoulders, becoming the first British man in 77 years to lift the coveted Wimbledon trophy in an all-time classic against Novak Djokovic.
To perform under that precise pressure with the eyes of multiple nations, not just one nation, watching on with hope and riding every possible emotion is perhaps Murray's greatest achievement, admitting the pressure was a "seven or eight out of 10" during the tournament.
Whether you were English, Scottish, or Welsh - Murray transformed the way British tennis was viewed and brought everyone together as one, irrespective of rivalries.
He broke his Grand Slam duck the year prior in New York before claiming his second Wimbledon title in 2016. Never in the script, Murray pushed the envelope to change the name of the 'big three' to 'the big four' of men's tennis.
But the biggest obstacle was yet to come.
In the first round of the 2019 Australian Open, another farewell tribute touched the heart of Murray at John Cain Arena after a five-set defeat to Roberto Bautista Agut, not knowing if he would ever play tennis again after sustaining a serious hip injury.
During that match, at times it was unbearable and heartbreaking to watch a champion of the game put himself through so much torment and agony, struggling to move.
Nearly eight months later at the Cincinnati Masters, the three-time Grand Slam champion marked his return to singles action after undergoing hip surgery, requiring a metal hip. The goal was not only to step back onto the court in a competitive environment but to go toe-to-toe with the elite.
With four tour titles and a ranking-high of 36 in the world post-surgery, it has largely been forgotten how much Murray has suffered physically over the years to play on the biggest stages purely down to his love and passion for the sport.
Moving around the court with the intensity and detail Murray implements carrying a metal hip cannot be easy - another reason he is so well-respected and admired.
This is a man who has continually stood up for women's rights, pulling up reporters for stating records broken by male athletes without considering females breaking those same records. In 2015, he declared himself a feminist and explained he had no shame in standing up for women, as he also hired former World No.1 Amélie Mauresmo as his coach.
Forever a British icon, two gold medals at the London and Rio Olympics along with an endless list of accomplishments on and off the court throughout his illustrious career earned him knighthood with the tag 'Sir Andy' for his services to tennis and charity.
A former world No.1 who sat on top of the mountain for 41 weeks, he stands alone with the record for most comeback victories at Grand Slams from two sets down (11). One of them included a clash against Thanasi Kokkinakis at last year's Australian Open, arguably producing the rally of his career to win the unwinnable point, defending with his back against the advertising boards.
From childhood scars to unimaginable pressures to gruelling injuries: Murray always found a way to resuscitate himself and prove the doubters wrong.
Had it not been for his grittiness and never-say-die spirit, his legacy may not have had the same impact on millions of Brits and tennis enthusiasts around the globe.
Even when the odds were firmly stacked against him, he never shied away. That will be the lasting legacy Andy Murray leaves behind.
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