Being A Celebrity Is Not Murray’s Favorite Thing

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 5th August 2013

Being A Celebrity Is Not Murray’s Favorite Thing

epa03779989 Andy Murray of Britain hoists the championship trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men's final for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 07 July 2013. EPA/ANJA NIEDRINGHAUS / POOL |

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, back in competitive action for the first time this week in Montreal’s Rogers Cup since his momentous triumph at the All England Club a month ago, has admitted the victory prompted him to almost became a recluse.

Murray, the first British man to win the Wimbledon title in 77 years, locked himself away at his Surrey home in the days after his triumph over Novak Djokovic and only emerged reluctantly.

“I spent two days inside my house and I didn’t come out,” Murray told Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper as he prepared in Montreal for the tournament he has won twice and is set to play either Grigor Dimitrov or Marcel Granollers in the second round after a first round bye. “I was just with my girlfriend and my dogs, I was getting followed everywhere so I just stayed inside. On the Thursday evening I went out in Wimbledon Village with a few friends for a Thai meal.”

Murray did find sanctuary at the All England Club itself. He explained: “I went there on the Friday to pick some of my stuff up and I wanted to see Doug Dickson, the locker-room attendant who is retiring.

“There was absolutely nobody there and it’s strange but it was the quietest place I could go. I went and sat on the Centre Court, they were about to rip up the playing surface and reseed it. I just sat there on my own, reflecting; that was probably the coolest experience.

“That week I didn’t have trouble going to sleep but I found myself waking up about four or five every morning and then struggling to get back to sleep.”

Murray also revealed he was stalked by paparazzi photographers when he took a vacation with girlfriend Kim Sears in the Bahamas. “We went down to the beach the first day but then the next day I got messages that there were pictures all over the place,” he said. “So we didn’t go back there and stayed in the resort.

“But not much seems to have changed, it’s been good. It’s been really nice getting messages from other players. I probably had more than after the US Open because they can understand how hard it is to win your home Grand Slam.”

Murray revealed he did not practice at all for nearly a fortnight and admitted going back to his tried and tested training base in Miami was like reacquainting himself with reality. “It was so hot and the first couple of practices were tough,” he said.

“I was hitting the ball really badly. But when my body started to feel better it started to go better. I got to enjoy winning Wimbledon for a couple of weeks but now it’s back to work. Maybe it’s been easier to get back to work than it was after winning the US Open last September.”