An emotional Andy Murray was shocked after discovering his four children were in the crowd as he won a second successive title on grass at the Rothesay Open.
Andy Murray was left close to tears after finding out his children were in attendance at the Nottingham Tennis Centre as he won the Rothesay Open on Father’s Day.
Murray, 36, beat Arthur Cazaux 6-4 6-4 to win his second successive title on a grass court ahead of Wimbledon, having also won the Surbiton Trophy last week. And his straight sets win over Cazaux means Murray should be seeded at this year’s Wimbledon as long as he reaches at least the quarter-finals of the Queen’s Club Championships.
Reflecting on his victory in Nottingham, Murray said: “I am obviously pumped. I am looking forward to a day’s rest tomorrow. I want to get back home because it is Father’s Day. Hopefully I will get to see my kids before bedtime.”
Murray was then interrupted as fans pointed out that his wife Kim and their four children Sophia, Edi, Teddy and Lola were actually in the crowd, leaving him shocked and emotional. “Oh my god,” he exclaimed.
“I didn’t know they were here. I had no idea they were coming. They came last week to the final at Surbiton and it started raining and they had to go home because it was bedtime and they missed the match
“Then they had to go home for bedtime so they missed the end of the match so it is great they managed to come. They’re all here, thanks guys! I don’t know what else to say.”
“Obviously my family have been unbelievably supportive of my career when they could have easily asked me to stop. I really appreciate it. Thanks to all of them and my team and my physio for keeping my body going. I really appreciate my family and my team in moments like this.”
What a moment 🫶
Happy Father's Day, @andy_murray 🤗#RothesayOpen pic.twitter.com/fKSwwUFsiq
— LTA (@the_LTA) June 18, 2023
Murray later admitted his children were one of the main motivations behind him continuing to play the sport, but joked they are actually “more interested in when we are going to McDonalds after the match” than watching their dad in action.
“After I had kids, I was motivated to keep playing so they could watch me when I was older, but they are not really that interested,” he explained. “I thought they might be but they are not. It is really nice for them to come, I have loved having them come and watch today, but I realise for them, they are more interested in other things.
“But it was still nice because they have not been to Wimbledon, they came to Queen’s when I played doubles there, but they have not been around it at all. They are more interested in when we are going to McDonalds after the match!”