Daily Mirror

A CRYING SHAME

TENNIS EXCLUSIVE: MURRAY FURY AT BROKEN LEGACY

- BY NEIL McLEMAN Tennis Correspond­ent n.mcleman@trinitymir­ror.com

Clueless tennis chiefs have failed to build on my family’s hard work and success... my mum is still driving round in a van trying to get kids to play... it’s sad & embarrassi­ng SAYS JAMIE MURRAY JAMIE MURRAY fears his family will have no tennis legacy when his mum Judy stops “driving around in a van” trying to get kids to play.

The first lady of British tennis and Strictly star was awarded the OBE last week.

But Jamie says there is a growing frustratio­n about the failure to capitalise on the success in British tennis over the last decade for the next generation.

Both brothers have become world No.1, won Grand Slams and helped Great Britain to Davis Cup victory in 2015.

The following day, the whole team united to give the Lawn Tennis Associatio­n a kicking, with Andy Murray claiming speaking to the governing body about the future of British tennis is a waste of time because “nothing ever gets done”.

And before another Wimbledon starts next week, Jamie insisted little has changed – especially in Scotland. “It is such a shame if there is no long-lasting legacy,” he said.

“So many people want to play tennis. I am sure that interest in the game is increased exponentia­lly over the last 10 years with the success we have had.

“It is just not easy for people to pick up a racket and go and play tennis. It is an expensive sport for starters.

“But if a kid in the east end of Glasgow wants to be the next Andy Murray, where does he start?

“There are no tennis courts in the east end of Glasgow. So it is very difficult. Maybe he just stays at home and keeps playing on his iPad or starts kicking around a football because he can do that. It is frustratin­g.”

Jamie wants to see more indoor courts and more invested in coaching. Judy’s plan for the state-of-the-art sports centre at Park of Keir was rejected by Stirling Council and she is now awaiting the results of a hearing.

LTA sources say they have backed the developmen­t – and along with sportscotl­and last year announced a £15million investment to double the number of covered courts from 112 to 225 over the next 10 years. But Jamie said his mum, 57, the former Fed Cup captain, is still “a one-woman band” in Scotland.

“Even now it is embarrassi­ng, after all the success Andy has had, that she is still driving in a van around Scotland and delivering tennis to kids in rural and deprived areas,” he said. “She is doing that on her own. There is no help there.

“She would be the best person to run the LTA, but she wouldn’t do it. For her the biggest thing is that we stop playing tennis and there is nothing to show for it in Scotland.

“It is sad when you think of all the money that has been spent on performanc­e centres all around the country and they have got absolutely zero to show for it.”

Brother Andy, who was knocked out in the first round at the Aegon Championsh­ips, will play matches at the Hurlingham Club next week before starting his Wimbledon defence on July 3.

“He will try get the good feelings and emotions of last year back,” Jamie said. “He has always played well at Wimbledon and once he gets out there with the crowd behind him, I am sure he will play fine.

“Wimbledon is probably his best surface. I wouldn’t be surprised if at the end of the two weeks, he is lifting the trophy.”

It is just not easy for people to pick up a racket & just go & play

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