Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray played his final Wimbledon last year The All England Club is set to recognise Sir Andy Murray's contribution to tennis with a statue of him at Wimbledon. Murray ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles champion at Wimbledon with amemorable victoryover Novak Djokovic in 2013, and triumphed again at SW19 in 2016 when he beat Milos Raonic. Former Wimbledon chief executive Richard Lewistold BBC Sport in 2019the club would honour Murray with a statue when he finished playing. The Scotretiredfrom professional tennis in August 2024 following an appearance at the Olympic Games in Paris. Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Club, told theAinslie + Ainslie Performance People podcast,externalit is now in discussions with 38-year-old Murray to make good on the promise and hoped to have the statue in place by 2027. "We are looking to have a statue of Andy Murray here [at Wimbledon] and we're working closely with him and his team," Jevans said. "The ambition is that we would unveil that at the 150th anniversary of our first championship, which was 1877. He's got to rightly be very involved in that and he and his team will be." A bronze statue of Fred Perry, the last British men's champion before Murray, was erected at Wimbledon in 1984 to mark the 50th anniversary of his first singles championship. Jevans said Murray would be equally deserving of being immortalised having provided "special" moments in the club's history. "Now he's retired, we're very much looking at how we can embrace him, for him to be a part of the club in the long term," she added. "We looked at Rafa Nadal having that sort of plaque unveiled to him at Roland Garros which was all very special. We thought, what do we want for Andy?"
Wimbledon to honour two-time champion Andy Murray with statue
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TruthLens AI Summary
The All England Club is planning to honor Sir Andy Murray, the three-time Grand Slam champion, with a statue at Wimbledon in recognition of his significant contributions to tennis. Murray made history in 2013 by ending Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles champion at Wimbledon with a stunning victory over Novak Djokovic. He followed this remarkable achievement with another triumph in 2016, where he defeated Milos Raonic. The former chief executive of Wimbledon, Richard Lewis, had previously announced in 2019 that the club would create a statue of Murray upon his retirement from professional play. Following his retirement in August 2024, after competing in the Olympic Games in Paris, the All England Club has initiated discussions with the 38-year-old Murray about the statue's design and unveiling timeline.
Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Club, expressed her enthusiasm for the project during a podcast, indicating the club's intention to unveil the statue by 2027, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the first Wimbledon championship in 1877. Jevans emphasized the importance of involving Murray and his team in the process, acknowledging the special moments he has provided throughout his career at the club. She drew parallels between Murray's contributions and those of Fred Perry, the last British men's champion before him, who received a statue in 1984 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his victory. Jevans highlighted the club's desire to embrace Murray as a long-term part of Wimbledon, reflecting on how other tennis legends, like Rafael Nadal, have been similarly honored at their respective venues. The statue is seen as a fitting tribute to Murray's legacy and impact on the sport at Wimbledon.
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