Proud mum Judy Murray says Andy and brother Jamie will both spend more time in Scotland after they hang up their racquets, helping to nurture young talent
Andy Murray will spend his retirement time nurturing tennis champions at the controversial sports and housing complex his family is planning near their hometown. Judy Murray said her son had turned down lucrative offers to open academies in China, South America and the Middle East after he hangs up his racquet following the Paris Olympics next month.
The Murrays are fronting the £20million Park of Keir complex between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan. It will see tennis courts, a golf course and housing built on greenbelt land and the plans went to a public inquiry, with SNP ministers giving the green light.
Judy said: “We have had offers from other countries to open an Andy Murray tennis academy. But, for us, it will always be about Scotland and our backyard. We want to give back to the game that has given us all so much. None of us have ever wavered from the position that we want to do this in our home country.” Sir Andy, 37, has lived in Surrey with wife Lady Kim for many years, while his brother Jamie, 38 – also a former world number one and one of Britain’s greatest ever doubles players – lives in Wimbledon with his wife Alejandra.
“Andy is coming to the end of his career and Jamie won’t play for too much longer either,” Judy said. “The three of us want to be able to share what we know, and what we did, with the next generation of players and coaches. When the boys are finished with their playing days they will have a lot more time to come to Scotland.
Andy has consistently refused to compete in Saudi Arabia because of his concerns over human rights, and has been a vocal champion of women’s rights. Saudia Arabia and the oil-rich Gulf states have been accused of ‘sportswashing’ their reputations by pumping huge sums into golf, football, tennis, cycling and other sports.
According to a report in the Sunday Times, he confirmed that he wants to head north in retirement. “I plan to spend a lot more time in Scotland when I finish playing and I’m sure Jamie will do the same,” he said. “We are both really keen to inspire the next generation of Scottish tennis players and coaches so we will be regular visitors to Park of Keir.” “We’re doing all we can to make it a reality as quickly as possible,” an LTA spokesman said.
