Andy Murray has teased mum Judy after she entered the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic and declared that tennis courts were “too big”. Judy, who will turn 65 later this year, will participate at the Hurlingham event.
Padel is a sport of Mexican origin that has grown in popularity in recent years. Effectively a spin on doubles tennis, players compete on a small court enclosed by walls, which can be used to set up shots. The ball is also softer than a standard tennis ball.
Judy, mother to tennis stars Andy and Jamie, joked that she is participating in the sport after realising that tennis courts are now “too big” for her.
She wrote on X: “Got talked into playing in the Alfred Dunhill Padel Classic at Hurlingham next week. The tennis court is way too big for me these days.”
Two-time Wimbledon champion Murray spotted the perfect opportunity to poke fun, responding: “Think the Padel court might be a bit of a stretch too.”
Murray is in a race against time to be fit for what could be his final French Open. The Brit damaged his ankle ligaments at the Miami Open in March and revealed that he was set for an “extended” spell away from the court.
The French Open could be Murray’s first tournament in nearly three months. He has been training on clay in preparation for the start of the tournament on May 26, by which time he will have turned 37. Murray may hope to play Roland Garros in preparation for Wimbledon, but says that scenario is not imperative.
“Last few years I’ve tried to give myself maybe better preparation for the grass season, but that also doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to play really well on the grass,” he said earlier this year.
“I’ve had experiences throughout my career where I didn’t play the French Open in 2013 and I won Wimbledon. I also played the French Open and did really well [at Wimbledon] in 2016.
“I don’t think it makes a huge difference if you get an extra week’s practice or so on the grass. So yeah, I would like to play one more time.”
Murray has previously revealed that he does not plan on playing too far beyond the summer. There is hope that he will be fit to make a final appearance at the Wimbledon Championships.
