Andy Murray is the 'greatest British sportsman of the past 30 years' says Mark Petchey after former World No.1's retirement

Andy Murray is the 'greatest British sportsman of the past 30 years'. That is the view of his former coach as well as a renowned commentator and pundit in Mark Petchey.

With Murray's retirement from the sport which was set at the Olympic Games in an emotional farewell, a lot of names from all sports have paid tribute to the multiple Grand Slam champion. Petchey is another and said that his longevity in a sport that takes so much away speaks for itself. This in terms of the greatest British sportsman debate.

It is one that has roared on since Murray's retirement was mooted. Some say Ronnie O'Sullivan in snooker, others use football players as well as Phil Taylor in darts for instance. But the sustained excellence of Murray is a sticking point for Petchey.

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“He is the greatest British sportsman of the past 30 years. I know optically football players are always going to get much higher ratings in that department but if you are going to ask me about a sport where a tournament lasts two weeks, where you have to remain healthy, beat seven people with different styles and in different conditions, tennis is the most demanding," said Petchey as per Boyle Sports.

“That is not me looking at my sport through rose tinted glasses. It is what numerous top sports people have said. Tennis when they look at it, for what you have to be on a court to be the best and Andy was world number 1 for a 12-month period, the best player on the planet, is the most demanding.

“You have to have hand-eye coordination, endurance, mental strength and also have the physical capacity to be able to sprint and the mental capacity to be able to strategize.

“Tennis at the top is like chess at 90 mph so I really believe he is the best sportsman of his generation and I would die on that hill.

“I remember speaking to Ivan Lendl when Andy had his hip resurfaced. Ivan said: ‘I always felt I was the lighthouse for rehab on the ATP tour when I was playing. I felt I did it better than anyone else but Andy takes it to a whole new level.’

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“Just from being around him for so long, he is the most disciplined athlete in the world when trying to come back from something. It is awe-inspiring to see him dedicate half an hour to the smallest of movements to be able to try to figure out a way to get back on court.

“He has defied logic, but he has done so because of his work ethic.”

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