Unlike Judy Murray, who has been a constant presence in her sons’ tennis journeys, Andy and Jamie’s father William has chosen to keep a lower profile. Still, he has played an important role in their lives, even after his marriage to Judy ended.
William Murray, originally from Dunblane, worked as a regional manager for the Scottish newsagent chain RS McColl. He married Judy Erskine in 1980, and together they had two sons—Jamie in 1986 and Andy in 1987. The couple separated after nine years and officially divorced in 2005.
William has spoken openly about how difficult the split was for the boys, recalling how painful it was to tell them their mother was leaving. While the public often assumed Andy and Jamie were closer to Judy, both brothers actually lived with their father for several years after the divorce. He said he kept the family home and looked after them, though he was content to remain in the background while Judy was the more visible parent on the tennis circuit.
In 2016, both Andy and Jamie attended William’s wedding to his long-term partner, Sam Watson, in Dunblane. Despite the acrimony of the divorce, time and Andy’s tennis success gradually softened relations between William and Judy. Their reconciliation became visible in 2013 when the pair were seen warmly embracing at the Wimbledon Champions’ Ball following Andy’s first Wimbledon triumph.
