LTA bestow unique honour upon Andy Murray following emotional retirement

ANDY Murray’s mum Judy has again hit out at the lack of a legacy in Scotland from her son’s tennis career.

She has long called for more investment in grassroots facilities to properly honour his achievements.

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Murray’s name will live on after a court in the SOUTH OF ENGLAND was named after him – but Judy wishes there was more in his homeland.

She said: “What he has done has changed the face of British tennis.

“I wish we had more in Scotland to show for it. I think people get sick of hearing we’ll never have another Andy or Jamie Murray.

“But they’ve built this enormous fan base all over the world.”

The Lawn Tennis Association has pledged £5million to a new community tennis centre near Dunblane being led by Judy.

She has long lamented the lack of facilities available in Scotland – and Murray branded one set of courts in Central Scotland a ‘shambles’ three years ago, forcing a local authority into a £100,000 revamp this year.

Now a top ranking court on the summer tennis circuit will now be renamed in his honour.

But not in Scotland.

From 2025 the centre court seating arena at Queen’s Club will be known as ‘The Andy Murray Arena’.

It’s a key grass court stop for star names in the lead-up to Wimbledon.

Murray has won the tournament more than any other player in history – and brother Jamie is currently the tournament director.

LTA Chief Executive, Scott Lloyd said: “Andy is the greatest tennis player ever to come from this country and a giant of British sport. His contribution to the game is immense and has bought us all so many moments of pride.

“His brilliance on court bought to an end the long wait for a British male singles winner at Wimbledon, brought home Olympic gold and silver medals and he was the driving force behind Britain’s 2015 Davis Cup success.  

“Anyone who ever saw him play knows he put his heart and soul into his performances on the court. His incredible work ethic and love for the sport was demonstrated by his repeated returns from injury, when many others would not have had the resolve.

“Perhaps equal to his on-court success was his attitude in championing equality and diversity right across the sport. He is a special role model for tennis in this country and beyond and a unique champion.

Career at a glance

What a career it’s been for Scotland’s hero…

• Career Titles:
  • 46 ATP singles titles
  • 3 ATP doubles titles
  • Most successful event: Cinch Championships at the Queens Club (5 wins between 2009-2016)
• Olympic Achievements:
  • First Olympic singles Gold medal at London 2012, defeating Djokovic and Federer in the last two rounds
  • First tennis player ever to win consecutive singles Golds at different Games (2016 Rio)
• Grand Slam Achievements:
  • 2012 US Open: Broke a 76-year Grand Slam singles title wait for British men, winning over Djokovic in five sets
  • 2013 Wimbledon: First British man in 77 years to win the Gentleman’s Singles title, defeating Djokovic
  • 2016 Wimbledon: Won again, becoming the first British player to win the singles more than once since Perry in 1936
• Record Against the ‘Big Three’:
  • Against Djokovic: 11 wins (11-25)
  • Against Federer: 11 wins (11-14)
  • Against Nadal: 7 wins (7-17)
• Davis Cup:
  • Led Great Britain to its first Davis Cup title in 79 years (2015), winning 11 rubbers during the year
• Awards and Recognitions:
  • Named BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year three times in four years (2013, 2015-16)
  • ATP player of the year in 2016
  • ITF World Champion in 2016
• Grand Slam Finals Record:
  • 11-time major singles finalist
  • Australian Open: 5 finals (2010-16)
  • French Open: 1 final (2016)
  • Wimbledon: 3 finals (2012-16)
  • US Open: 2 finals (2008 & 2012)
  • Only lost to Djokovic or Federer in Grand Slam singles finals
• Knighthood:
  • Became the youngest person to be knighted in modern times at age 29 in the late Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for 2017
• National Ranking:
  • British No.1 for almost 12 years (July 2006-March 2018)

“We are proud to name the arena at our tournament at the Queen’s Club after him.

“We are committed to delivering an infrastructure legacy working with Judy Murray on the Park of Keir project, a new tennis centre of national significance for Scotland and for its local community.

“We are, of course, keen to continue to work with Andy in the future, in whatever capacity he wishes – as British tennis is all the stronger for him.”

Murray’s long goodbye was finally completed in Paris when he was eliminated from the Olympic doubles with partner Dan Evans on Thursday.

*There’s a bumper 43-pages of sport in Saturday’s Scottish Sun – including our eight-page Andy Murray tribute special as the Scottish tennis legend retires from tennis

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