Andy Murray asks for big Wimbledon change that may disappoint fans after stunning Novak Djokovic in practice
ANDY MURRAY might be a Knight of the Realm and a two-time Wimbledon champion – but he is still an “embarrassing” dad to his four kids.
It does not matter sometimes what you do as a parent, however successful you might be, you will inevitably be classed as uncool in the eyes of your children.
And Muzza – a hero to so many people across the country for his exceptional exploits with a tennis racquet – is no exception.
The Scot, who has been married to wife Kim since April 2015, explained: “My eldest daughter is aware now of what I do but I don’t think she really sees it as a good thing.
“I think she gets more embarrassed by it to be honest.
“We went to pick her up from school on Friday and she’ll never properly acknowledge me at the school gates or around the other kids at school.
“I asked her the other night: ‘Why wouldn’t you give me a hug at school today?’
“She said: ‘Because people know you – you’re No.39 in tennis or something!’
“She doesn’t see it as a cool thing, it is more than embarrassing.”
The kid in question – eldest child Sophia, who is seven – has in the past opted to call her dad “Andy Murray” in an attempt to wind him up.
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The Surrey-based young prankster surely gets her dry sense of humour from the former world No.1.
When he won the Nottingham Open on Father’s Day last month, his family all turned up expectedly in the stands and surprised him during his winners’ speech.
Speaking to SunSport in the hours after that victory in the East Midlands, he revealed that two of his children – Teddy, 3, and Lola, 2, – are banned from attending his matches this fortnight.
Strict Wimbledon rules dictate that children under the age of five are not allowed to access Show Courts as they are too young.
Murray, who also has a five-year-old daughter named Edie, is scheduled to face British No.7 Ryan Peniston on Tuesday.
And in a plea to tournament selectors, he would like for once to play at lunchtime and not at teatime, which is peak primetime viewing for UK fans.
He said: “Usually I get given the late shift so hopefully this year they’ll put me on a little bit earlier.
“The way the scheduling is done now, all the late matches end up being played under a roof.
“I’d like to play slightly earlier in the day if at all possible so I get to see the kids in the evening because usually I’m finishing at 9-9.30pm.
“With the later starts and the big breaks between the matches it is later finishes a lot of the time.”
Out on Court No.14 on Saturday, Murray showed encouraging glimpses of his form with an hour-long practice match with Novak Djokovic in which he led 6-2 2-1 until time was called on the activity.
Murray downplayed that scoreline against the defending champion, said: “It’s only practice and I’m fully aware of that.
“Over the years I have never been the best practice-player, so generally if I’m doing well in practice it’s not always a good sign.
“For me he’s the clear favourite going into the tournament and that’s why I want to be on court with these guys.
“It’s the best practice you can get, providing you go into it with the right mindset.
“It’s not like because I played well in practice that I’m going to have an amazing run here.
“It can give you reassurances about certain things in your game that you’re having a few doubts about going through the tournament.
“Also if the practice doesn’t go so well it’s because you’re playing against the best player at exploiting those things you might miss if you only hit against players who are ranked 150 in the world.
“It was just good to be on the court with him again.”