Billie Jean signs Judy
Murray teams up with King’s Freedoms in US
JUDY MURRAY is to continue her coaching career in the United States after being snapped up by Billie Jean King.
The former Fed Cup captain, and mum of Andy and Jamie, has been named director of player personnel at King’s tennis team the Philadelphia Freedoms.
King said: “Judy brings a tremendous amount of expertise to our front office and will work closely with our team to provide additional depth and expertise.”
Murray added: “I’m a huge fan of Billie Jean and what she continues to do for tennis. I share her belief in the power and importance of team tennis for engaging players and fans.
“I’m really excited to get involved with the Freedoms and look forward to being part of the Philadelphia sports community.”
In addition to recruiting players, Murray will host pre-match meet and greets with team partners, tennis clinics and other community outreach activities.
It’s an extension of the work she has done in Scotland, where Murray developed initiatives including Miss-Hits, for girls age five to eight, and Tennis on the Road, taking tennis into remote and deprived areas. Meanwhile, Judy insists Andy will put his “heart and soul” into trying to return to professional tennis.
He underwent hip surfacing surgery at the end of January in a final throw of the dice to try to overcome the problem that first became serious in summer 2017.
The operation was primarily to improve his quality of life, with Murray struggling just to put on his socks and shoes, but also offered a potential route back to the sport. Judy added: “He is in a good place mentally and we just keep our fingers crossed. If anybody can do it he can – he’ll put his heart and soul into it like he does with everything.” An emotional Murray, 31, had announced ahead of the Australian Open he planned to retire after Wimbledon this summer but was more hopeful after a remarkable five-set firstround defeat by Roberto Bautista Agut.