Women players all ‘love Andy Murray’ reveals Serena
Serena Williams says female players “love Andy Murray” for his efforts to ensure women’s tennis is treated on equal terms with the men’s game.
The 23-time grand slam winner, who is expecting her first child later this year, said the men’s world No 1 was hugely popular among players on the women’s tour.
Murray challenged a reporter who he felt was overlooking women’s achievements in his press conference after losing to American Sam Querrey in the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The journalist was midway through asking a question, saying to Murray: “Sam is the first US player to reach a major semi-final since 2009.”
“Male player,” Murray said. He repeated that remark, before the journalist said: “Yes, first male player, that’s for sure.”
Americans Serena and Venus Williams, along with Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and Coco Vandeweghe, have all reached grand slam semi-finals since Andy Roddick lost to Roger Federer in the 2009 Wimbledon final.
Murray is a long-time supporter of women in tennis, with the 30-year-old recognising the influence of mother Judy on his career, and in 2014 he appointed former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo as his coach. Serena Williams told ESPN: “I don’t think there’s a woman player – and there really shouldn’t be a female athlete – that is not totally supportive of Andy Murray.
“He has spoken up for women’s issues and rights, especially in tennis, forever and does it again. That’s one thing that we love about him.
“He has such a wonderful mother who’s been such a strong figure in his life and he’s done so much for us on our tour, so we love Andy.”
During this year’s Wimbledon, Murray also urged schedulers to give women more chances to play on the main show courts, which have featured a disproportionately high number of men’s matches.
Meanwhile, British women’s No1 Johanna Konta believes she and Murray can form a dream team to inspire a new generation of British tennis stars.
Murray will retain his place at the top of the world rankings on Monday despite his loss to Querrey while Konta will climb at least to fifth. It will be the first time since 1975, when women joined the men in having a rankings system, that a British man and woman have sat in the top five concurrently.
Konta will rise from seven to four if Garbine Muguruza wins the title today, after she reached the semi-finals for the first time before running into an inspired Venus Williams.
Her success, however, revealed the scarcity of elite British women in tennis in recent years.
Konta was only the third female player from these shores to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon since Jo Durie in 1985 and the first to make the last four since Virginia Wade in 1978.
“I think it can only be a positive thing at home,” Konta said.
“But I’d like to think that Andy has inspired both girls and boys to play. I’d like to think that I’m doing the same, both girls and boys.
“But I’m definitely happy that there’s more attention and more, I guess, good feelings towards tennis and being involved in this great sport.”
As well as inspiring the next crop of aspiring young players, Konta caught the imagination of the British public with her pulsating wins and courageous style of play.
Some fans at the All England Club were even seen wearing ‘Konta Mania’ T-shirts as they cheered her on against Williams.
“Konta Mania, I didn’t hear that before,” Konta added, laughing.