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It didn't take long, did it, for Britain's most ferocious mother to turn into Britain's most embarrassing mother.
Ever since Andy Murray's first appearance on the tennis circuit we've been used to thinking of mother and son as still umbilically linked, one physically on the tennis court, the other, fist raised, on the sidelines. I mean, for a time there was some doubt as to whether Andy actually had a father (there were similar doubts about the existence of the Williams sisters' mother). But now, Judy Murray has unsettled both the nation and Andy Murray.
She fancies another tennis player - and her son's next opponent - 29-year-old Feliciano Lopez (F-Lo to his fans), whom she calls - oh God - Deliciano. She's talked about the Spaniard "looking good out there, as always". She's described Wimbledon, on the basis of his presence, as a "felifest", on Twitter. Mrs Murray is 50.
Can you imagine it? This takes Mrs Murray into an entirely different league as embarrassing parent. The obsessive, ferocious coach-cum-cheerleader-cum-Tiger Mother, Andy is used to. Judy Murray as a sexual being is another matter altogether. "It's about time she stopped with that nonsense," he said the other day, in a determined attempt at humour. "Makes me want to throw up! It's disgusting. Yeah, it's disgusting."
He went on to explain that he had tried to introduce the pair - F-Lo is a friend - on court by inviting him to sit down with his mother "because she thinks you're beautiful". Apparently Mrs Murray went bright red and backed away. For her part, Judy Murray has explained, not entirely convincingly, in a newspaper column that her infatuation is now a family joke. She says today that she's embarrassed by the whole thing. Too late.
These are deep waters. It is one of the human realities that no one in their right mind thinks of their parents as having sexual feelings. An awful lot of young men the same age as Andy Murray, 24, would take the same view as Hamlet did with Gertrude if it came to their mother fancying anyone, let alone a man five years older than them and a friend.
Added to which, it confuses Britain. If you've made your son the pivot of your very existence, as Mrs Murray has, well, it's hard to square that image with a cougar-style crush on his rival. The nation is used to Mrs Murray as the quintessence of the shouty, pushy mother, and many people rather admire her for it. But if you add to that narrative, to use the fashionable term, Mrs Murray's schoolgirl infatuation on a man rather more handsome than her boy, where does that leave us?
Mrs Murray did in fact leave the family home in 1996, when she divorced, though she never really parted from her sons in Dunblane. One way of looking at Andy Murray's career is that tennis was a useful outlet for the anger he felt, as many children do, at his parents' divorce.
Mrs Murray confirms, and no one really doubts it, that she won't hesitate when it comes to the contest between her Spanish crush and her son on court. Still, this new development adds an amusing, if slightly alarming, twist to the image of the Murrays as a joint mother-and-son act. It lends a little, needed interest to Andy Murray's habitual grumpy-puss persona.
And it may cheer up his overshadowed, pretty girlfriend, Kim.
Reader views (17)
Baron McVon McRictofen ..
But a Scots degree is a free one courtesy of the good old English tax payer ..
We have learned through history that we need to give you every chance to be educated so as you cannot keep coming back with the old "down trodden" excuse, therefore to put financial obstacles in the way would defeat the object.
We ask for nothing in return except a little gratitude and ask that you kneel to the House of Winsor as you pass the border and enter this great country as is the English way.
Having said that us English have a saying .. "You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink !!" .. which is most probably apt for the thought of the education being used or or the thought of any gratitiude being given.
- Mike B, Millbank, 29/06/2011 10:52
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Thats the Scots for you. Hate the English but cant ever quite rise above the primitive Neanderthal beginnings lol
- Andy G, Bahrain, 28/06/2011 23:05
I'm a Scot, I don't hate the English and have a university degree.
Muppet.
- Baron von Richtofen, Biggin Hill, 29/06/2011 10:16
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Anyone but Murray to win. Anyone. Now you pro-Murray supporters (are there any?) post some amusing cynical comments for my entertainment.
- Soap Box, London, 29/06/2011 10:06
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Oh, and by the way, picture caption person; quintessence? Surely you meant quintessential?
- Johnny Drama, Five Towns, 29/06/2011 09:58
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I've studied this area of social life to quite an exhaustive degree, and I can assure readers that Andy Murray's mother is a long way from being a cougar.
- Johnny Drama, Five Towns, 29/06/2011 09:37
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Have stopped watching tennis due mainly to Murray !!! .. he whines like his mother looks (terrible).
Whilst the others get on with winning or losing and exit gracefully only Murray makes a million reasons why he failed and failed and failed ..
Think his mother and John McEnroe must have hooked up in the past and spawned him .. he got the tennis from his mother's side and whining from McEnroe.
The English inherantly have no respect for the Scots and cannot think for a reason why they should .. Likewise the Scots have no reasons to dis-respect the English.
- Mike B, Millbank, 29/06/2011 09:28
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Jocks like the Murrays and Sean Connery should just be sent off to some isles in the Shetlands and taught to show the English some proper respect....
- Tarzan, Knightsbridge, 29/06/2011 09:08
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@ Lynn
Correct...that was beyond nasty and I stand by it. Perhaps your beloved Andy should watch his Scottish mouth when insulting MY country...and perhaps your countrymen should think about what they portray with campaigns like ABE?
If you guys cant take it....dont give it, is my advice LOL
- Andy G, Bahrain, 29/06/2011 07:10
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Melanie - Have you ever met Andy? I have and he was lovely. Shy but very polite and he was wonderful to my little boy who is a huge fan. He took the time to sign an autograph, pose for a photo and listen to a 5 minute tennis story my son insisted on telling him. I get sick of reading this 'grumpy' nonsense that journalists like you are constantly spouting.
@Brit, London. People who follow her care. Don't read articles that feature her or Andy if you don't like either of them. Seems as though you have some anger issues.
@Ernest, London. Well, don't watch her or Andy. It's simple. Why should she not attend? To satisfy you or people like you.
@Andy G, Bahrain. Your comment is beyond nasty. I'm a Scot and I know no-one that hates the English. I certainly have no time for people like you.
It's funny how no-one mentions Federer's parents OR Nadal's. Nobody mentions the parents of Djokovic. Judy Murray attends the BRITISH tournaments and a few others. Truth is that over the year you will see the parents of the top 3 MORE than you will see Judy Murray and that's a fact. Why should any of these parents not attend? Judy is also a tennis coach and you will see her attending the matches of numerous British players - not just Andy and Jamie.
You should be ashamed of writing this drivel.
- Lynn David, Scotland, 29/06/2011 01:38
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Thats the Scots for you. Hate the English but cant ever quite rise above the primitive Neanderthal beginnings lol
- Andy G, Bahrain, 28/06/2011 23:05
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Who on earth actually married this woman in order to produce mr misery. l would rather stay lonely
- David, london, 28/06/2011 22:31
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By making one of her sons her own route to wealth and now, international family humiliation, what on earth is she doing to the feelings of her older son Jamie who was also a handy but much overshadowed sibling?
Based on the story so far, it may not be his decision alone, when he retires, whether he likes it or not.
- Concerned Observer, Harrow, 28/06/2011 21:13
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I saw this women being interviewed and she said that she was NOT a pushy mother!!! Her son frankly looked on with embarrassment. Maybe just maybe his tennis might improve if she stayed away. She has know idea how to behave properly.
- Jane, London, 28/06/2011 19:52
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I have to say it's getting a bit irritating seeing her constantly watching her son. He needs to learn to cut the apron strings - long overdue.
- Ernest, London, 28/06/2011 18:12
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Why do people have to be unpleasant about a woman who thinks Feliciano Lopez is handsome? I bet there are a lot of women who think the same as she does.
(I don't!)
Motherhood is not excusive-women don't cease to fancy men after they become mothers or there would never be brothers and sisters.
Let Mrs Murray say and do as she pleases............it's a free world.
- Andrea, London, 28/06/2011 16:59
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Dont women like her holiday in Jamaica when they get frisky
- Lord Pusey, London, 28/06/2011 15:38
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what is this woman even doing on Twitter? Who gives a monkeys what she has to say? B7tch, please!! have some decorum.
- Brit, London, 28/06/2011 15:09
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