Judy Murray’s worry over tennis legacy

Andy Murray’s mother has admitted she is worried he is not going to be playing professionally for much longer.

Judy Murray wants to create a “bricks and mortar legacy” from the success of her sons, Andy and Jamie, on the global tennis stage

But she has now said she fears Andy may have to quit before her dreams of opening a world-class tennis academy near her home town of Dunblane are realised.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the tennis coach warned it would take around two years to build the complex if it ever gets the green light.

Councillors in Stirling rejected the proposed £37.5 million Park of Keir tennis and golf facility in December 2015 after more than 1,000 objections were lodged.

The Scottish Government later “called in” the project for a public inquiry, which was held last autumn. Ministers are yet to announce their decision.

Mrs Murray said: “The thing that worries me now is that Andy may not play for much longer. He has been around for 12 years playing at the top of the game.

“The last two years have taken a lot out of him.

“There has been plenty of time to start to build a legacy and capitalise and it’s just not been done. If you’re going to build a base somewhere, which is what I’m trying to do, it is going to take two years to build. By the time it is built he could have stopped playing.

“My plan for a multi-sports hub has been with the government for nearly a year. It’s disappointing it has taken so long.”

Judy Murray is worried Andy will have finished playing before her dream is realised.