Andy Murray’s Father Opens Up on Family Struggles and His Son’s Resilience
As the crowd at Centre Court sank into disappointment after Andy Murray’s hard-fought Wimbledon semi-final loss to Andy Roddick, one man stood tall and applauded with pride — his father, Will Murray.
While Andy’s mother, Judy, has often been in the spotlight, Will has stayed largely in the background. Yet, he has quietly played a central role in his sons’ lives. In his first in-depth interview, he revealed that Andy’s toughest battle wasn’t on the tennis court, but when, at just nine years old, he was told his mother was leaving home.
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“That was the worst day of my life,” Will recalled. “I had to tell Andy and Jamie their mum was moving out. They were devastated.”
Despite Judy’s public image as the ever-present tennis parent, Will explained that he raised the boys in the family home for several years after the split. “I cooked, cleaned, and took care of them. People don’t always know that side of the story, but Andy and Jamie do.”
Will admitted tennis and long coaching hours may have contributed to the marriage breakdown, but insisted there was no bitterness. Both parents continued supporting the boys’ careers, sharing tournament duties and responsibilities.
Andy himself has spoken about how difficult the separation was, though he credits both parents for shaping his discipline and drive. His father added that while Andy is fiery and competitive, his brother Jamie is more laid-back — but their bond remains unshakable. “Suggestions that Jamie envies Andy’s success are nonsense. They’re each other’s biggest supporters.”
The Murray brothers’ journey has been far from easy. As children, they survived the 1996 Dunblane Primary School tragedy, where a gunman killed 16 pupils and a teacher. “We were very fortunate,” Will said softly, choosing not to dwell on the painful memory.
Today, both Andy and Jamie are accomplished professionals. Will, now in a long-term relationship, says he is proud of how far his sons have come. He also praised Andy’s long-time girlfriend, Kim Sears, calling her a steadying influence.
Despite the fame and fortune tennis has brought, Will stressed that his sons don’t let the sport dominate their lives. “They don’t sit around talking tennis all the time. If they lose, it hurts in the moment, but they move on quickly.”
Looking back, he says the sacrifices he and Judy made to support Andy’s training in Spain — which cost nearly £40,000 — were never about expecting payback. “Like any parents, we just wanted the best for our kids.”
For Will, the greatest reward is seeing two “skinny boys from Dunblane” become world-class athletes, and knowing they’ve come through hardships stronger than ever.
