Wimbledon will honour Murray with statue

ANDY MURRAY will be commemorated with a statue at Wimbledon, the chief executive of the All England Club has revealed.

Richard Lewis suggested there was no doubt the Scot’s extraordinary tennis career would be recognised with a permanent memorial, much like that of Fred Perry, whose bronze likeness is displayed in the SW19 grounds.

“For sure, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” Mr Lewis told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme yesterday when asked about a Murray sculpture. “We always felt that when Andy retired, that would be the appropriate time to recognise his extraordinary career. I am sure something like that will be done.”

The news may give some comfort to Murray, whose distress at the prospect of not making it to the championships one final time was laid bare last week.

The two-time Wimbledon champion has suffered with a long-term hip injury and acknowledged it will force him to retire this year. He had been determined to bow out at SW19 but revealed last week he could not even put his shoes and socks on without pain.

Sue Barker, the broadcaster and former player, described Murray as “the greatest British player there has ever been”, while Roger Federer said: “He’s a good guy, Hall of Famer, legend.”

In 2013 Murray became the first British male to take the title since Perry in 1936. Murray also won in 2016.

He was due to play what could be his final match at 7am GMT today in the first round of the Australian Open.