Andy Murray has revealed that he will not attend this year’s Wimbledon unless a Brit reaches the final or if his children want to go.
Murray, the two-time champion at the All England Club, played at tennis’ most prestigious grand slam for the last time in 2024, when he and his brother Jamie were defeated by Australian pair John Peers and Rinky Hijikata in the first round of the men’s doubles.
Murray had been slated to play in the singles and mixed doubles events too, but was forced to withdraw from both draws.
He had been drawn to face the Czech Tomas Machac in the singles, but explained that he had not had enough time to recover from a back operation.
Murray was supposed to partner Emma Raducanu in the mixed event, but this time, it was Raducanu who pulled out, saying that she had felt “some stiffness” in her right wrist.
I don't have any plans to go. I'm not working there, I don't go to watch tennis as a fan
Now the Scot, who ended the 77-year wait for a British men’s singles champion on the south west London grass in 2013, has said that he will not be going to this year’s Championships unless one of his compatriots reaches a final - or his children beg him to go.
"I don't have any plans to go," Murray said.
"I'm not working there. I don't go to watch tennis as a fan. But if one of my kids wanted to go along and watch, I obviously would take them. If a British player made the final, I'd go.
"I went to the Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz final a couple of years ago, just because I had a feeling it was going to be a great match. But I won't be there otherwise."
Murray’s legacy on Centre Court will be memorialised at Wimbledon’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2027 with a statue.
His playing career ended last year at the Olympic Games in Paris, when he and Dan Evans were beaten by Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul at Roland Garros.
Murray, who was Britain's leading light for tennis throughout his career, has seen the mantle taken on by Jack Draper, who comes into Wimbledon off the back of a sensational rise that has seen him reach world no4.
Draper will be seeded fourth in the men’s draw at the All England, thus avoiding Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner, and French Open and defending Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz until at least the semi-finals.
"It'll be a little bit different this year coming in as a top seed but he'll deal with it well," Murray said of Draper, who was most recently stunned by Jiri Lehecka in the semi-finals at Queen’s Club.
"He's played in difficult environments and under pressure before, and I'm sure he'll cope with it well."
This year, he made his first venture into coaching, taking up a role with 24-time grand slam champion and his former rival Djokovic ahead of the Australian Open.
However, the pair’s partnership did not help Djokovic win a single title, and they parted ways before the French Open.
