National Hero Gilles Muller Retires After Stellar Career
By Toby Oliver
Luxembourg legend Gilles Muller called it a day on his 17-year career following a first-round exit from the US Open. The big-serving left-hander has been an icon of Luxembourg sport with his big wins and humble personality. However, it wasn’t an easy road for the 35-year-old.
While enjoying some decent results in the early stages of his career, Gilles Muller suffered from injuries to his elbow in 2013 which threatened his career. Despite this, Muller has had a very successful career with his best year coming in 2017 when he won two titles. His playing style has always suited grass best with his kicking lefty serve causing problems to any player.
Muller has been a danger in any tournament draw with several big-name players losing out to him. In 2004, he beat Andre Agassi when he was ranked outside the world’s top 100 and the following year he beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.
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His most famous victory came in 2017 in the Wimbledon quarter-final against Nadal again. The match lasted nearly five hours with Muller taking the fifth set 15-13. This match was a perfect example of his excellent serving under pressure and fine net skills.
Muller won his first ATP title in 2017 in Sydney where he beat Dan Evans in the final. It was an emotional win for him as he had lost every time he had been in an ATP final before that. He celebrated on court with his three sons and gave an emotional winners speech.
To prove how good his 2017 was, he also got to a final on clay in Estoril which is by far his weakest surface. His final title came on grass in the Netherlands against fellow big server and long time rival Ivo Karlović.
Next. Nadal: All 11 French Open Wins. dark
Unfortunately for Gilles Muller, his 2018 hasn’t seen him able to recreate that good form, which is perhaps why he’s decided to call it a day. His win over young star Denis Shapovalov at Queens his best win of the year. Maybe the highlight of Muller’s career was at the 2016 Olympics in Rio where he was flag bearer for Luxembourg. Where he will forever be a national hero.