Never hurry a Murray Writer
I had to wait two years for Judy book deal
An author has told how she begged Judy Murray to let her write her biography – before finally netting the deal.
Alexandra Heminsley wrote to champions Andy and Jamie’s mum two-and-a-half years ago.
But Judy only agreed to serve up the secrets to her family’s sporting success six months ago.
Alexandra has spent the past half year with the former British Fed Cup captain to co-write her biography, due for publication this summer.
The author, who recently released a book about learning to swim, Leap In, told how she feared she had missed the opportunity to do the biography .
She said: “I wrote to her two- and- a- half years ago and begged her to do a book. I got a letter back from her management saying, ‘ Thank you but Judy’s not ready’.
“I didn’t think I’d hear from her again. But she has almost terrifyingly good timing because we’ve been working on it for the past six months.”
Since starting the book, Andy and older brother Jamie have become the tennis world No1s in singles and doubles.
Alexandra said: “Judy has given Britain two of its greatest ever athletes and transformed the sporting landscape for women in a really quiet, dogged, almost super-sleuth way.”
The tennis coach is believed to have signed a six-figure deal for her insight into the making of the champs. It is understood the book will be called Knowing The Score.
Speaking earlier this year about the biography, Judy said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to tell my story, with the hope that hearing my experience can offer women the conf idence and encouragement they need to overcome the inevitable obstacles they confront – not just in sport but throughout life in general.”
Judy won 64 titles for Scotland during her junior and senior tennis career.
Meanwhile, in her latest book, Alexandra, from Brighton, reveals how swimming helped her to cope as she had IVF treatment.
She said: “If I had been told at the end of this process you might not have a baby but here’s something to keep your body and soul together, I would have chosen it.
“It was a slow, constant choice to have something I wasn’t going to give up on.
“There is zero relationship between me swimming and getting pregnant. There’s an enormous r e lat ion ship between me swimming and coping with IVF for 18 months and keeping body and soul together enough not to crumble emotionally.”
I begged her to do it but didn’t think I’d hear from her again