Judy Murray spent years cheering her son from the sidelines as he worked his way to the top of British tennis. But she has revealed recently she has been the victim of hate mail sent by fans of son Andy.
Critics describe her as a constant domineering presence, a woman who refuses to cut the apron strings.
Even tennis legend Boris Becker has joined in, blaming her attendance for her son losing last year’s final of the Australian Open.
Stung by the comments, the 52-year-old has spoken out, saying she is simply at the big matches to give her son ‘a big hug’ when things don’t go well. She has also questioned whether she would receive half the criticism she does if she were a man.
‘There is a sense that mothers are not supposed to be completely involved in their children’s sport,’ said Mrs Murray, mother of 24-year-old Andy and his doubles player brother Jamie, 25.
‘I know I’m not hugely popular. I have had letters saying what a terrible person I am. They don’t like my aggressive reactions when Andy is on court. They say I am awful. The letters don’t come so often these days, but it is difficult to change perceptions.’
The tennis coach brought up her sons around tennis, taking them to games as small boys because she couldn’t afford a babysitter. She made immense sacrifices to pay the £35,000 needed to send Andy to train in Barcelona when he was 15.
But she has lately taken more of a back seat in his career, not least because she is now coach of the Great Britain Fed Cup team in her own right.
She said: ‘The apron strings stuff is ridiculous – Andy lives in Oxshott (Surrey) and lived in Wandsworth, South London, for a number of years before that. I have always lived in Scotland.
‘But there are people who really think I travel with him around the world telling him what to do.’
Mrs Murray added: ‘I only attend six or seven competitions a year. There have been times when I have been around more often, but that has been when he is having a tough time and needs support.’
Andy has always spoken warmly of his mother and father William, with whom he lived for a few years after his parents separated when he was nine years old.
Mrs Murray has a new partner, Phil Reid, with whom she lives in Dunblane, Perthshire, but is still seen, teeth clenched and fists pumping, on the sidelines of her sons’ tournaments around the world.
She said: ‘I know that when Andy looks up, he wants to see some kind of positive reaction. You will never find me doing anything negative like shaking my head. Never, ever.’
Despite trying to be more detached from her son, her fierce ambition on his behalf is evident and she still needs a few moments to gather herself when speaking of his defeat to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final of 2010.
She said: ‘I was watching the press conference in the players’ lounge and I could see in his face that he was devastated.
‘I will never forget him looking at me and saying, “I’m so sorry, mum”.
‘I pushed him away and said, “Andy, don’t ever tell me you are sorry. Have you any idea how great that is for me, watching you on one of the best courts in the world, playing against the best player of all time? Your time will come, never forget that”.’
