A true sporting great: Sport, Racing And Society Story

Andy Murray’s place in history is much deserved

If he’d lost he’d have been remembered as a “Scottish nearly man” but with his historic victory yesterday at Wimbledon, Andy Murray OBE became a “British superstar”.

Andy Murray's win at Wimbledon will inspire the nation to take up their rackets — Andy Murray’s win at Wimbledon will inspire the nation to take up their rackets

Murray, who survived the Dunblane massacre and is said to be capable of eating 50 pieces of sushi in one sitting, is now likely to be ennobled. His income will top £15 million per year and just as happened to footballer David Beckham, a fellow client of Simon Fuller, the tennis player is set to join the ranks of the highest paid sportsmen in the world.

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Of Murray’s win, Fuller, his manager, commented:

“[It’s like] winning the World Cup, it’s on a par with that… We haven’t won Wimbledon in 77 years so it has to be really… I think it’s very much a moment now where Britain can really see Andy Murray the man and not just the great sportsman”.

Labour leader Ed Milliband, musician turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham and footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen were amongst those in the Royal Box watching Andy Murray's historic victory — Labour leader Ed Milliband, musician turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham and footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen were amongst those in the Royal Box watching Andy Murray’s historic victory

Amongst others present were The Duchess of Cambridge's brother James Middleton and his girlfriend Donna Air — Amongst others present were The Duchess of Cambridge’s brother James Middleton and his girlfriend Donna Air

With a £5.6 million mansion in Oxshott, Surrey, a £2 million hotel near Dunblane and sponsorship deals with Adidas, Head, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Swiss watch maker Rado, Andy Murray is also up there with Tony Blair (who announced he’d swap his achievements in office to have been in Murray’s winning position Centre Court yesterday on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning) in terms of wealth.

The difference between Murray and the tennis loving former Prime Minister though, is that the Scot chose to donate the £1.6 million he won yesterday to charity whilst Blair would most likely have just pocketed it. In doing so, this tennis legend showed himself to be a gent most worthy of the title of: “A true sporting great”.

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