COMING HOME: Andy Murray

Past national and international programme archive
12 August - 12 December 2021

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum

British sporting icon Andy Murray grew up in Dunblane, Stirling, and started playing tennis at the age of three coached by his mother, Judy. In 2013 Murray became the first British man to win The Championships in 77 years. Three years later he was crowned Champion again. Murray is also the first tennis player to win two Olympic gold medals in the singles tournament (2012 and 2016). In 2012 he also became the US Open Champion. Speaking after his Wimbledon victory in 2016, Murray said, 'This is the most important tournament for me every year ... I've had some great moments here, but also some tough losses. The win feels extra special because of the tough losses'.

Celebrated artist, Maggi Hambling, began making portraits in 1973. Her subjects include Stephen Fry, Oscar Wilde and Max Wall. An avid tennis fan, Hambling met Murray at Wimbledon where they became good friends. One day Murray arrived at Hambling's studio with a gift for her: a tennis racket. Hambling then asked to paint his portrait. At points, the sittings were humorous, in particular when Murray found it difficult to hold the gruelling balancing pose for one preparatory charcoal sketch. Murray is portrayed playing against an unseen opponent. The challenge in this portrait, Hambling has said, was to capture 'the speed of Andy's whole body as he plays, one stroke flowing into another'.

    Andy Murray,    by Maggi Hambling,    2019,    NPG 7106,    © Maggi Hambling
Andy Murray by Maggi Hambling 2019
NPG 7106