His feats on Wimbledon’s hallowed centre court have already secured his status as one of the game’s greats.
But now, growing calls for Sir Andy Murray to be immortalised with a statue at the spiritual home of British tennis have been given a major boost with support from fellow legend Billie Jean King.
Posting on social media, however, the American who won 39 grand slam titles in her career said the double Wimbledon men’s champion should be honoured – if not at the All England Tennis Club then at least in his home country.
‘A statue at Wimbledon would be fitting but there needs to be a meaningful, permanent legacy in Scotland for Andy Murray,’ she posted in a video on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The 80-year-old former world number one, who has Scottish roots, urged the Scottish Government and the Lawn Tennis Association to ensure Murray’s legacy is the completion of a proposed tennis centre at Park of Keir, which lies south of Dunblane.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King has backed calls for Sir Andy Murray to be immortalised with a statue at Wimbledon
Ms King offered her backing for a centre that would contain grassroots facilities in addition to a museum dedicated to the three-time grand slam winner and double Olympic champion.
‘Surely creating a base in Scotland where Andy, Jamie and Judy can give back to their sport, by doing what they do brilliantly – developing and inspiring the next generation of players and coaches – is the best legacy for them,’ she said.
Murray’s mother Judy, who has been spearheading plans for the tennis and golf complex, was among the first to respond to King, posting the single word: ‘Agreed’.
She won an eight-year planning battle to build the tennis and golf complex at the end of 2021, but has continued to face opposition from local campaigners and community councillors given work would take place on green belt land.
However, Judy Murray found herself embroiled in a very different spat at the weekend after the curtain came down unexpectedly early on her son’s distinguished 19-year Wimbledon career when Emma Raducanu pulled out of their mixed doubles match.
The ‘dream’ partnership should have been two-time Wimbledon champion Murray’s Centre Court swansong and last shot at SW19 glory after he was forced to withdraw from the singles competition due to a back injury and then lost in the men’s doubles alongside his brother Jamie.
Former US Open champion Raducanu’s eleventh hour withdrawal – citing a wrist injury – left legions of fans disappointed. Murray, 37, was said to have been ‘absolutely devastated’, while Judy Murray, in an apparently barbed tweet, said she was astonished.
British No3 Raducanu, 21, said she had made the ‘very tough’ call because of ‘some stiffness’ in her right wrist and was concerned about being fit to play her fourth-round match in the women’s singles competition yesterday.
‘I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to playing with Andy but got to take care,’ she said. Raducanu faced playing three matches in consecutive days at Wimbledon if she had played in the mixed doubles.
But Murray’s mother, a former tennis coach, appeared to make a pointed dig at her decision on the social media platform, describing it as ‘astonishing’.
Yesterday morning, she appeared to have softened her stance, posting on X: ‘Not sure anyone understands sarcasm these days.
Pretty sure the scheduling (4th match court 1 with a singles following day) will have played a major part in any decision making.’
Her son’s last hurrah in SW19 turned out to be his defeat in the men’s doubles with brother Jamie last Thursday, after which he was honoured by the All England Club with an emotional tribute on Centre Court. He now faces a race to be fit for this summer’s Paris Olympics before he finally hangs up his racquet.
Sir Andy was forced to withdraw from the singles competition due to a back injury and then lost in the men’s doubles alongside his brother Jamie
Paying warm tribute to his ‘amazing career that has brought creditability and excitement to British tennis’, Ms King said in her post: ‘And everyone is asking what his legacy should be? I am hearing talk of a statue at the All England Club, which of course would be very fitting.
‘But shouldn’t it be the community tennis centre that he and his family are trying to build outside their home town in Dunblane?
‘A pay-to-play multi-sports centre, run as a charitable trust, aiming to make tennis affordable, accessible and fun for all.
‘Let’s hope the Scottish Government and the powers that be in British tennis can help get this over the line and soon. So, come on! Let’s go for it!’
Following years of wrangling, the Scottish Government announced in 2017 it was minded to grant planning permission the proposed sports hub – a £40million development including 12 tennis courts and a golf academy, hotel, multi-user sports pitch, museum and visitor centre as well as 19 houses.
‘But opponents claim the centre – on green belt land between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan was ‘a good plan, in the wrong place’.
Ms King, whose maiden name is Moffitt, has previously spoken of her own Scottish heritage and even has her own tartan in purple, red, black and the ‘Billie blue’ hue she wore during her playing career, in which she won 39 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
