Judy Murray praises Andy for ‘changing Scottish tennis’ ahead of the Olympics

A TENNIS coach at the club where Andy Murray first picked up a racket before going on to being world-beaters says the sporting hero has “exceeded all expectations”.

Sandy Fleming helps train youngsters at Dunblane Sports Clubs, and while he is “not surprised” at the news of Andy’s retirement, he thinks it’s a good time to “reflect on the career he’s had and how proud he’s made us here at Dunblane.”

Sandy said: “He was a name that everybody knew around Dunblane because Judy had been a tennis player, but as he was playing as a junior here there was more and more talk of Andy and what he did – and Jamie as well.

“But when he went off to Spain you kind of hoped that he would do well and wow, he’s exceeded all expectations.”

Looking back on Andy’s stellar career, he added: “It is amazing, from a little boy in a country that is not famed for his tennis to have that level of desire, fight and I would say that’s kind of his biggest trait, the way that he fights and works so hard.

“It is unbelievable what he’s achieved, I would never have guessed that at the very start when that kind of skinny little boy turned up at Wimbledon with his clothes too big, and now we’re celebrating somebody who’s won Wimbledon twice, he’s won the US Open, he’s made all these finals, he’s a double Olympian, maybe a triple Olympian, who knows.

But all those accolades didn’t make Andy a “Mr Big Time”, according to Sandy – and instead he remained an “everyday, normal person.”

He said: “He came to one of our summer camps and he hit balls with every single child here so that they could have that moment where they could say, I’ve hit with Andy Murray.”

And asked if he reckons Andy will go on and claim a third gold for one final hurrah, he added: “Well if anyone can, Andy Murray can.”

2008, Wimbledon, fourth round – beat Richard Gasquet 5-7 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 6-4

The match that established Murray’s reputation for never giving up.

The 21-year-old was two sets and a break down before recovering to reach the quarter-finals of a grand slam for the first time.

The backhand down the line during the third-set tie-break that left him almost in the crowd is arguably his most memorable shot.

2012, Olympic Games, gold medal match – beat Roger Federer 6-2 6-1 6-4

Four weeks after his heartbreaking Wimbledon final loss to Federer, Murray played arguably the greatest match of his career to claim his first global title.

Admittedly he was facing a tired Federer but this was complete domination in front of a raucous and disbelieving Centre Court crowd.

2012, US Open, final – beat Novak Djokovic 7-6 (12-10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2

In his fifth final, Murray finally won a grand slam title in fittingly dramatic fashion. It looked like he might have blown his chance when Djokovic fought back from two sets down to level but the Scot was not to be denied.

2013, Australian Open, semi-final – beat Federer 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 6-7 (2/7) 6-2

Going for a second successive slam title, Murray secured his only slam victory over Federer. Although it took five sets, the Swiss was hanging on to Murray with his fingernails for most of the match and was helpless in the fifth set.

2013, Wimbledon, final – beat Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4

The most important match of Murray’s career was a fitting way for the Scot to end Fred Perry’s 77-year reign as the last home men’s singles winner. Superb throughout, the final game was a match in itself before Murray at last got his hands on the golden trophy.

2015, Davis Cup, final – beat David Goffin 6-3 7-5 6-3

Of all Murray’s many wonderful achievements, winning the Davis Cup for Great Britain virtually single-handed in 2015 might well be the best of them. It was fitting he should win the final point against Belgium in Ghent, sealed with a stunning lob.

2016, French Open, semi-final – beat Stan Wawrinka 6-4 6-2 4-6 6-2

The match that showed Murray had conquered clay as he knocked out the defending champion to reach his only final at Roland Garros.

2016, Wimbledon, final – beat Milos Raonic 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2)

For the first time in his 11 slam finals, Murray found someone other than Federer or Djokovic on the other side of the net. From the start, he stamped his authority on first-time finalist Raonic and did not let up.

2016, Olympic Games, gold medal match – beat Juan Martin del Potro 7-5 4-6 6-2 7-5

This gruelling, emotional victory in Rio gave Murray something none of his illustrious rivals have managed as he became the first tennis player to successfully defend an Olympic singles title.

2023, Australian Open, second round – beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6 6-7 (7) 7-6 (5) 6-3 7-5

Three years spent largely sidelined through hip problems did not dent Murray’s belief that he could contend for the big tournaments.

This was only a second-round match but it summed up everything that made the Scot great as he played the longest match of his career, five hours and 45 minutes, finishing at past 4am and battling back from a seemingly hopeless position

Summer of 2012

Only a month after his tearful fourth grand slam final loss to Roger Federer at Wimbledon, Murray gained redemption in spectacular fashion by emphatically defeating the Swiss to claim Olympic gold on Centre Court.

He followed it up at the US Open by ending the long wait for a British male grand slam singles champion with a dramatic five-set victory over Novak Djokovic.

First Wimbledon

The victory that will always be top of the pile came on a glorious summer’s day at SW19.

Murray faced Djokovic again in front of an expectant crowd on Centre Court and rode the wave to finally consign Fred Perry to history, surviving a nerve-jangling final game.

Davis Cup glory

Wimbledon was Murray’s crowning individual glory but arguably his most extraordinary accomplishment was winning the Davis Cup for Britain almost single-handed.

His brother Jamie and James Ward chipped in but Murray won an unprecedented 11 out of 12 rubbers across four ties.

2016 Wimbledon and Olympics

After reuniting with Ivan Lendl, Murray swept to his third slam title at Wimbledon, this time beating Milos Raonic.

And a month later he made some history for himself, overcoming Juan Martin Del Potro in Rio to become the first tennis player to successfully defend an Olympic singles title.

World number one

The season of Murray’s career had a golden ending when a run of five straight tournament victories, culminating in victory at the ATP Finals in London, carried him to the world number one ranking.

Return from hip surgery

Murray broke new ground by becoming the first singles player to return to the elite level of the sport following a hip resurfacing operation.

The Scot put years of pain behind him to climb back into the world’s top 50 and reach four ATP Tour finals, winning an emotional 46th title in Antwerp in 2019.

Lows

Knee trouble

Murray feared his career might be over before it began when knee pain interrupted his training in Spain at the age of 16.

He was diagnosed with a bipartite patella but was able to manage it effectively.

Anyone but England

Teenage joshing with Tim Henman during an interview in 2006 came back to haunt Murray when his joke that he would be supporting ‘anyone but England’ at that summer’s football World Cup was widely publicised and damaged his public image and his relationship with the press for several years.

Back surgery

Murray’s first time under the knife came in 2013 when he decided a troublesome back problem needed to be fixed by surgery.

The Scot was only sidelined for three months but it took him a long time to fully recover.

Lendl split

While Murray was working his way back in 2014, he was dealt a major body blow when mentor Lendl decided he no longer wanted to continue their relationship.

Their reunion in 2016 helped the Scot win more of the sport’s biggest prizes.

Hip pain

The low that overshadowed all the rest began after the French Open in 2017, when Murray found he was no longer able to recover from chronic hip pain that he had been managing.

A resurfacing operation in 2019 that coated the joint in metal eventually allowed him to return.

Losing run

Murray pushed on through his mid-30s determined that he could still match the best and achieve his goals.

But that belief gradually drained away and a run of nine defeats from 10 matches at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 was the worst of his career.