20-times grand slam champion, Roger Federer has said he was shocked by the news that Andy Murray was retiring.
The Swiss paid tribute to the former world number one and said he should be proud of his achievements.
Murray announced his retirement on Friday and said his hip injury was causing him too much pain and was retiring because of constant pain.
“I was disappointed and sad, a little bit shocked, to know now that we’re going to lose him at some point,” Federer said.
“But we’re going to lose everybody at some point. It’s just now that it’s definite,” he added, acknowledging that the era of the “Big Four” — himself, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Murray was drawing inexorably to a close.
“Of course, it hits us top guys hard because we know Andy very well,” the world number three said of the three-time Grand Slam champion and double Olympic gold medal winner.
“He’s a good guy, Hall of Famer, legend. He won everything he wanted to win. Anybody would substitute their career with his. He’s a great guy.”