Andy Murray's rarely seen father, William, has spoken candidly about the impact of his divorce from Judy on their sons, revealing how the split left both Jamie and Andy "distraught".
Speaking ahead of what could be his son's final tennis match at the Paris Olympics, William described the pain of having to tell his young sons that their mother was leaving, a decision that he says "ripped him apart". The couple married in 1980 and had two sons, Jamie in 1986 and Andy a year later. The pair divorced in 1987 following a nine-year separation, with the boys remaining in their father's care.
"I had to tell them that their mum was leaving home. It ripped me apart to have to hurt them by telling them what I did. They were distraught. They are very different personalities but they took the news much the same way," William shared with the Daily Record. Despite the heartache, William remained a constant presence in his sons' lives, providing unwavering support and guidance.
While Judy has been a familiar face courtside throughout her sons' careers, William has chosen to remain more in the background. However, Jamie revealed in 2019 that his father played a crucial role in their tennis journey, often going unnoticed amidst the public spotlight on his mother. "Mum's in the public eye. My Dad, he was there for us, raised us as much as my mum," Jamie explained on Lorraine. "He did a lot of the ferrying around to tournaments, all the washing and ironing â all the fun stuff I'm sure he enjoyed. He's in the background but he's a great dad to us."
William, who married partner Sam Watson in 2016, took on the responsibility of raising his sons after the separation, providing a stable home environment for them. "A lot of people don't realise that because the story isn't portrayed that way. That's fine by me because the boys know exactly what happened," he said.
Andy himself has spoken about the pain of his parents' separation, acknowledging the challenges of navigating a fractured family dynamic. "They didn't speak too much and they didn't get on too well together... they are just two different people," he told the Telegraph in 2007. "If I stayed with my mother for two nights, then I felt I should stay with my father for two nights. At Christmas I didn't know how long to spend with each of them. I would get stuck in the middle of their arguments."
Despite the difficulties, both Andy and Jamie have gone on to achieve remarkable success in the world of tennis, a testament to the unwavering support and love they received from both parents. William's candid account offers a glimpse into the often-unseen side of a family story that has captivated the world of sport, highlighting the enduring strength and resilience of the Murray brothers.
