Andy Murray’s father, who is seldom seen in the public eye, has clarified the details surrounding his ‘devastating’ divorce from ex-wife, Judy.
As his son, aged 37, competes in what could potentially be his final professional tennis match at the Paris Olympics today, William will undoubtedly be brimming with pride. However, unlike Andy’s mother Judy, 64, who is a constant presence cheering him on at every match, the Scot prefers to maintain a low profile.
The former couple tied the knot in 1980 and had two children – Jamie in 1986 and Andy a year later in 1987. They ended their marriage in 2005 after a nine-year separation, with the boys residing with their father.
William revealed that both Andy and Jamie were deeply affected by the news of the divorce, sharing: “I had to tell them that their mum was leaving home. It ripped me apart to have to hurt them by telling them what I did. They were distraught. They are very different personalities but they took the news much the same way.
Despite the public perception of Andy and Jamie being closer to Judy, who is frequently photographed alongside the medal-winning duo at court side, the brothers lived with their father for several years following the divorce, reports the Mirror.
In an interview with the Daily Record, William, who wed partner Sam Watson in 2016, stated he “kept the family home and looked after them for the next four or five years”, adding: “A lot of people don’t realise that because the story isn’t portrayed that way. That’s fine by me because the boys know exactly what happened.”
