Judy Murray, British Fed Cup team captain and mother of Andy and Jamie, talks embarrassing tennis tales, wooden rackets and guilty pleasures.
First tennis memory? Playing at Dunblane Tennis Club with my mum and dad when I was about 10. We had shale courts and a little wooden clubhouse. In those days you didn’t have the mini rackets or the pressure-less balls, so you had to be a reasonable age to be strong enough to play. I remember having a wooden racket.
Funniest moment on a tennis court? When I was playing against somebody many years ago and we were chatting just before the start of the match. It was in the days when you would wear your skirt over your tracksuit. My opponent was so busy talking that she started taking her tracksuit trousers off and was standing there in her underwear having forgotten that she didn’t have her skirt on.
Proudest moment? Watching my kids get married and watching Jamie and Andy play together in Davis Cup and the Olympics
I just watched it unfold and thought ‘I can’t believe she’s doing that’. I didn’t know her very well but that was actually very, very funny. She realised when she eventually stopped talking.
Did you win that match? Yes
Earliest Wimbledon memory? My mum was a huge tennis fan so when Wimbledon was on she pretty much sat on the sofa for two weeks and we didn’t get fed. It was like ‘everything’s in the fridge’; she literally didn’t move. It was one of those things that if you can’t beat them, join them. We used to just sit and watch with her. Wimbledon was her fortnight and everything was second fiddle.
Can you remember your first visit to The Championships? It was around 1980 when I was a student and I managed to get some tickets for Centre Court. I came down on the train from Scotland with three student friends of mine and stayed with my aunt, who lives in Woodford Green, north London. I was really excited. I can’t remember who we saw.
Are you a worrier? I struggle to sit still. I’m always working and it’s just how I’ve always been. I’ve had times in my life where I’ve worried about money. That’s really the only thing I’ve really, really worried about. In general I’m a very positive person. I can find a positive out of the most incredibly negative situation.
What are three things you need to be a successful tennis player? You need a good attitude, you need to be a good athlete and you probably need a good coach at an early age. I think that, to have any chance to get anywhere near the top, all the ingredients need to go into the early years. Having access to a good coach in all those formative years – aged 8-14 – is really critical.
Life motto? Reach for the stars but keep your feet on the ground.
Book? Michael Connelly, Lost Light. I’ve read all of his books, I like a detective thriller and he’s one of my favourite authors.
Where would you go in a time machine? I’d go back to the Roman era. I loved Latin at school and I loved the whole Roman history thing. I used to love watching Up Pompeii [British TV comedy series starring Frankie Howerd] when I was younger.
Guilty pleasure? Salt and vinegar kettle chips.
If you could take one shot from any player, past or present, what would it be? Andre Agassi’s backhand down the line.
What has been the proudest moment in your life? Watching both my kids get married and also watching Jamie and Andy play together in Davis Cup and the Olympics.
Wimbledon in three words? Very, very special
