John McEnroe calls on Wimbledon chiefs to build Andy Murray statue
TENNIS ICON John McEnroe reckons Wimbledon should erect a statue of Andy Murray in honour of his distinguished sporting feats.
Whatever happens this week with his battered and bruised body, Murray’s legacy in the annals of British sport is secured and protected.
His straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the 2013 singles final ended a 77-year wait for a men’s homegrown singles champion.
Three years later, he lifted a second Golden Championship – he overcame Canadian Milos Raonic in the final.
And he also deprived Roger Federer of Olympic gold at the London 2012 Games on the hallowed Centre Court grass.
Dotted around the All England Club complex are statues and busts of former British champions Fred Perry, Kathleen McKane Godfree, Dorothy Round, Angela Mortimer, Ann Jones and Virginia Wade.
It was put to McEnroe, 65, if commissioning some form of permanent tribute to Murray would be an appropriate acknowledgement of his achievements with a tennis racquet.
And the American – a three-time singles winner – said: “If I was making that decision, I would say absolutely, yes. Because that was a long drought.
“He’s absolutely changed the way people look at British tennis.
“He’s one of the greatest competitors that I’ve ever seen play tennis.
“It would be well deserved and it’d be awesome, because two of his three Grand Slam wins were at Wimbledon plus there were the Olympics.
“So that would seem to make a whole lot of sense. But I don’t know what they’re thinking.”
It is not such a fanciful idea and the Club considered this in the past, notably back in 2019 when he ‘retired’ for the first time until he had career-saving hip surgery.
In reality, the process will not begin until the Scotsman is officially done but given his latest injury woes, that could be sooner rather than later.
Muzza, 37, underwent emergency spinal surgery last Saturday ahead of his final appearance at his favourite Slam.
He remains hopeful he will play at least once more on the SW19 grounds – either in singles or doubles competition.
It could well be that the final balls he ever hits at the tournament are in doubles with elder brother Jamie – though he might struggle to serve with a weakened spine.
McEnroe, who will be working once again during the Championships for BBC TV, said: “Andy was a part of the Big Four and he finished 2016 as the best player in the world.
“So it’s unfortunate that with the injuries, you don’t hear about him the same way you did before.
“Obviously that had a big impact. He could have won more majors obviously.
“He’s still going to be considered one of the great players of his era. He’s had a tremendous career. Unfortunately, most careers don’t end the way you want them to.
“I don’t think that you can take away from the accomplishments.
“I had the same problem. I often say: ‘The older I get, the better I used to be.’
“Unfortunately, when you have injuries, it’s pretty damn hard, if not impossible to get to that level where you were before.”
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