Murray calls for tennis talent to be given opportunity to thrive
TENNIS coach Judy Murray has claimed the “phenomenal success” of last weekend’s Davis Cup tie in Glasgow shows the huge appetite for tennis in Scotland and highlights the massive opportunity that exists to grow the sport.
The Great Britain Fed Cup captain said neither she nor her sons, Andy and Jamie, had ever experienced an atmosphere like the one at the Emirates Arena at the weekend, where Great Britain beat the US to line up a World Group quarter-final home tie against France.
But she stressed good public facilities and a workforce of people who can enthuse others and bring on talent are essential if tennis is to grow in Scotland.
“There is talent everywhere in the country, but talent without opportunity doesn’t come to anything,” she said.
Ms Murray was speaking as she prepared to address 300 young people interested in a career in sports development or coaching at the Dundee Academy Of Sport.
The talk included her reflections on her rise from being a volunteer coach in Dunblane to working at tennis’s elite level with her sons and the GB women’s team. She said: “Now there is a massive, massive opportunity to capitalise on the buzz about tennis that’s been created by Andy and Jamie’s success, and I want to try to grow the game up here.”
Meanwhile, Andy’s notice of his wedding to Kim Sears on April 11, in Dunblane, has been published at the council offices opposite Dunblane Cathedral. The minister, the Rev Colin Renwick, would not comment on whether it would be held there.