The All England Club has announced its intention to honour one of Britain’s greatest sporting icons, Andy Murray, with a statue at the historic Wimbledon grounds.
This gesture is a fitting tribute to a player whose name is now etched into British tennis folklore, having ended the nation’s 77-year wait for a men’s singles champion at the prestigious Grand Slam.
Murray, now 38, brought pride and emotion to Centre Court in 2013 when he triumphed over Novak Djokovic in straight sets to claim his maiden Wimbledon title.
That moment of victory, filled tears of joy, broke a drought that stretched back to Fred Perry’s last win in 1936. Three years later, Murray once again conquered SW19, defeating Canadian Milos Raonic in the final to lift his second Wimbledon crown.
Murray officially retired from professional tennis in August 2024 following an emotional farewell appearance at the Olympic Games in Paris.
A Deserving Honour
The move to honour Murray has been long-anticipated. In 2019, former Wimbledon Chief Executive Richard Lewis stated that the All England Club would commemorate Murray’s career with a statue once he had ended his playing days. With his retirement now confirmed, those plans are well underway.
Speaking on the Ainslie + Ainslie Performance People podcast, All England Club chair Debbie Jevans provided an update on the ongoing collaboration with Murray and his team, confirming the statue could be unveiled as part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Wimbledon’s first championship in 1877.
“We are looking to have a statue of Andy Murray here and we’re working closely with him and his team. The ambition is that we would unveil that at the 150th anniversary of our first championship, which was 1877. He’s got to rightly be very involved in that and he and his team will be.”
All England Club chair Debbie Jevans
The Club has an arrangement for such tributes. A bronze statue of Fred Perry, the last British men’s champion before Murray, was unveiled in 1984 to mark the 50th anniversary of Perry’s first title.
Debbie Jevans stressed that the forthcoming tribute is about more than just on-court accolades. Murray, she said, has provided some of the most memorable and emotional moments in the Club’s history – from battling injuries and comebacks to standing firm on matters of equality in sport.
“He’s got to be involved in every step of the process. Andy’s story is not just about wins. It’s about resilience, class, determination, and a fierce belief in himself and others.
“He gave us moments that were incredibly special, and now he’s retired, we’re very much looking at how we can embrace him, for him to be a part of the club in the long term.”
All England Club chair Debbie Jevans
A Reference From Other Grand Slams
Jevans also referenced how other Grand Slam venues have celebrated their champions, citing the tribute to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros, where the Spaniard was honoured with a commemorative plaque and a court bearing his name.
“We looked at Rafa Nadal having that sort of plaque unveiled to him at Roland Garros which was all very special. We thought, what do we want for Andy? This is about what feels right for Wimbledon and for him. And there’s no doubt that what he has achieved here is worthy of lasting recognition.”
All England Club chair Debbie Jevans
Murray’s Wimbledon legacy goes beyond his two titles. His influence in popularising tennis across the UK, raising the standard of British tennis, and inspiring a new generation of players has been immense.
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