Andy Murray’s grandparents, Roy and Shirley Erskine, have opened up about receiving upsetting letters criticizing the tennis champion and his mother, Judy Murray. The couple, who live in Dunblane, admitted that the negativity has been difficult to deal with.
Shirley, 84, told the Radio Times that some of the comments were petty but still hurtful. “We’ve had a few nasty letters—one about Andy supposedly snarling on court, and another mocking his accent, saying he sounded American,” she explained. “Things like that can upset you. Judy always says, ‘Throw it in the bin and forget about it—there will always be people like that.’”
Her husband Roy, 82, echoed her feelings: “I find it upsetting. The things some people say—not just about Andy, but about Judy too—can be very unpleasant.”
Not all the letters have been cruel, though. Shirley added with a laugh, “We’ve had some funny ones as well, like the man who said Andy should eat more baked beans.”
Despite the criticism, Murray is flourishing both on and off the court. The 29-year-old made history that weekend by becoming the first man to win the Queen’s Club title five times. It was his second tournament victory of the year, and his focus has now shifted to Wimbledon, beginning on June 27. Murray famously ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s singles champion at Wimbledon in 2013, and he hopes to lift the trophy again.
Andy’s wife Kim will be in the stands cheering him on, joined by his mother Judy. However, Kim is expected to leave their newborn daughter, Sophia, at home. The couple welcomed their first child in February, and both mother and baby have been living quietly away from the spotlight.
