Andy Murray finally gets Wimbledon painting after initial snub left family furious
All England Club denies new image celebrating decade since Scot’s first title was in response to furore over omission from previous painting
The Wimbledon artist criticised by Andy Murray’s family for omitting him from a painting of famous rivalries has unveiled his latest work – this time starring the two-time champion.
In the new artwork, Murray is depicted celebrating his first championship a decade ago across the net from his boyhood self hitting a forehand.
The artwork sparked immediate speculation from cynics that the image may have been created in response to dismay at a previous picture of famous faces failing to feature Murray.
However, the All England Club clarified both pictures had been commissioned at the same time, and it had always been the plan to release the image of the Briton on the day he appeared again on court.
The paintings were created by Grant Gruenhaupt, an illustrator who specialises in sporting scenes, and who also provided the All England Club with promotional artwork during last year’s Wimbledon.
“The boy from Dunblane who realised his dream on Centre Court,” an accompanying caption next to the new picture said on Twitter.
“10 years on from his crowning triumph, Andy Murray is back on Wimbledon’s biggest stage.”
The boy from Dunblane who realised his dream on Centre Court.
10 years on from his crowning triumph, @andy_murray is back on Wimbledon's biggest stage. pic.twitter.com/58OhqXHc1u
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2023
The image is likely to have received a warmer welcome from Murray’s family, who had branded the other promotional artwork unveiled ahead of the Championships as “appalling at every level”.
The previous picture features two current players, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, standing in the centre of the clubhouse. Behind them on the stairs is Roger Federer with an arm around each of his most implacable opponents: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Murray’s brother Jamie responded to the All England Club’s post on Instagram with a simple comment saying “Where’s Andy Murray?” He added later that he thought the omission was disrespectful.
Andy’s uncle, Niall Erskine, was also outspoken in an angry Twitter outburst: “Appalling at every level,” Erskine wrote. “All about the men in the forefront and your own British history maker nowhere to be seen. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
A row previously erupted in 2019 when the Lawn Tennis Association failed to include a single photograph of the Murray family in an expensive rebranding document entitled “Tennis Opened Up”.
On the anniversary of his first Wimbledon crown, Murray faced fellow Briton Ryan Peniston on Centre Court on a Tuesday afternoon that saw heavy disruption to the schedules on the outside courts due to rain.
On Saturday, Murray had asked the organisers to avoid putting his matches on in the evening, so that he can spend as much time with his family during the fortnight as possible.
