It’s said you can’t build a team around one or two players. And trying to take a sport to places where it has never been before is infinitely more difficult.
But don’t tell that to Jamie Murray, whose family have carried all before them in international tennis, to the extent we’ll probably only realise the scale of the golden period of grand slams and Olympic medals that he and his brother, Andy, have orchestrated for the last 15 years once they finally pack away their racquets.
It’s not just the duo, of course. In the background, nurturing dreams, spreading the gospel and delivering the message that youngsters should be offered opportunities on court, is their mother, Judy, a rollocking force of nature whose encouragement and expertise in the game she once graced has been nothing less than inspirational.
If a job needs doing, Jamie is delighted to be an evangelist for the game where love means nothing, but which has left the Murrays in its passionate embrace. I caught up with him at Aberdeen’s Albyn School, where he was chatting to youngsters, promoting the Battle of the Brits competition which is coming to P&J Live later this month, and generally proving he is a coiled spring of energy on and off the tennis treadmill.
Now 36, he has the same desire and determination as he did when he was winning the first of seven major doubles prizes at Wimbledon back in 2007 – Andy has three grand slam singles titles in his locker and a brace of Olympic golds – and the pair joined forces as a two-man family wrecking ball to lift the Davis Cup for Britain in 2015.
Battle of the Brits
Schroders Battle of the Brits – in which Scotland tackle England on December 21 and 22 – is already close to selling out and the showcase, brought to the Granite City by tournament director Jamie, will be played over two days with Andy featuring in all three sessions.
His older sibling said: “Last year was difficult because we had to cancel it four days out from the competition [because of Covid], but all the players are looking forward to it, we’ve put in a lot of work, it’s an amazing venue and we can’t wait to get started. We wanted to take it out of Edinburgh or Glasgow and Aberdeen felt like a really good fit.
“People from the north of the country always seem to have to travel so far to get to events, but my mum has been leading the community outreach programme with schools and clubs for the last two years and everybody has been grateful for the chance to play and they are excited by the thought of top-class tennis coming here.”
The ubiquitous Judy was never far away from the conversation and even though Jamie was diplomatic about her performance on Strictly in 2014 – “I went to watch her one of the weeks live where she actually did better, but it was interesting. She wasn’t twinkle toes” – there’s no doubt he has the highest admiration for her tireless exertions, which have inspired her to venture the length and breadth of the country for decades.
Drawing more youngsters into tennis
He said: “It’s incredible the work she has done for so long and continues to do. It’s probably difficult for me to comprehend how much she has actually done, although obviously I talk to her about it quite a lot, but the amount of people she has put herself in front of to introduce them to tennis and build workforces around Scotland to be able to deliver starter tennis to kids from all backgrounds has been remarkable.
“It’s all about building up from the grassroots and increasing the playing numbers. You don’t start out looking to produce another Andy Murray or world-class performer, but the more youngsters you draw into the sport, the more you can build up momentum.”
The trouble is that these bold Scots can’t carry on indefinitely and, despite their heroics, and the emergence of such talents as as Cam Norrie, Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu on the British circuit, there is little sense of urgency around too many clubs who are happy to persist with the status quo and keep their doors closed to outsiders.
In one corner, you have Jamie and Judy, all beetle-browed energy and effervescence, speaking passionately about the need for improved facilities, role models with the quality to inspire kids to pick up a tennis racquet, and their deeply held conviction that the sport requires joined-up thinking, not just to produce elite stars in the future, but to grant youngsters access to free tennis as often as possible during their formative years.
Murrays ARE British tennis in the 21st Century
And then you have the two-week Wimbledon watchers who couldn’t care less about transforming the situation where the Murrays’ arrival was almost a happy accident.
Jamie said: “My mum is trying her best, but I think she needs a lot more help than what she has been getting. The governing bodies could obviously be a lot more active and proactive in what they’re doing to try to grow the game and I think people forget fast.
“We will stop playing in probably the next two to four or five years’ time and there will have been a 20-year period where they [the authorities] had an opportunity to really grow the sport around the country.
“The chances of that happening, once we stop, will significantly decrease if we don’t have people at the top of the game to continue where we have been playing all that time. So you have to make hay while you can.”
In essence, the Murrays ARE British tennis in the 21st Century, as immutably linked to the sport’s success as Frank Sinatra and My Way or Clint Eastwood and Dirty Harry.
And Jamie’s certainly not one to moan about his lot as he steels himself for a gruelling schedule in a packed arena just a few days before Christmas.
Looking forward to the show
As he said: “It’s fantastic that the people of Aberdeen have really got behind the Battle of the Brits and it will be great to have full crowds cheering us on and creating a brilliant atmosphere for them.
“I know we’re all really looking forward to getting out there and putting on a show”.
Satisfaction is guaranteed in that respect. Let’s just hope, with Jamie and Andy, we’re not left singing Joni Mitchell’s refrain: “You don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone”.
UK viewers will be able to catch all the action via BBC platforms, including the BBC Red Button, the BBC iPlayer and the Tennis Channel app.
Remaining tickets are on sale here.
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR JAMIE MURRAY
- What book are you reading?
The Clever Guts Diet by Michael Mosley. - Who’s your hero/heroine?
Usain Bolt. - Do you speak any foreign languages?
A bit of Spanish. It should be much better because I have a Colombian wife! - What’s your favourite band or music?
Oasis. Best band in the world. - What’s your most treasured possession?
My daughter.
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