Edinburgh tennis facility could be named after Andy Murray

ANDY Murray today shrugged off talk of a knighthood after his historic victory at the US Open.

“I think it should take more than winning a couple of good tournaments to deserve something like that,” he said.

He revealed the message of congratulations which meant most to him after his career-defining win was one from from Rafael Nadal. “Rafa messaged me after the match and said he was very happy for me and that I deserved it.

“I got congratulations from a lot of people but when you get it from someone you are competing against and who is one of the best players ever it means a lot more.”

And Murray said he hoped to be at the official Scottish Olympic parade in Glasgow on Friday. “I was very disappointed to miss the parade in London but I am hoping to make the one in Glasgow.”

Calls for Scotland’s national tennis centre to be named after Andy Murray have been backed by Capital fans.

As Murray mania gripped Edinburgh, a motion was lodged with the council calling for the flagship facility at Craiglockhart to be renamed the Andy Murray Tennis Centre.

And as well as supporting the move, followers of the Scots tennis ace also suggested a statue should now be erected in recognition of his achievement at becoming the first Brit since Fred Perry in 1936 to win a major. Murray’s epic five-set victory over defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic followed his defeat of Wimbledon champion Roger Federer to win gold at this summer’s London Olympic Games.

Councillor Gavin Corbett, Green member for Fountainbridge and Craiglockhart, who lodged the motion for Craiglockhart tennis centre to be re-named, said: “Let’s not just call it Craiglockhart, let’s call it after the country’s greatest ever tennis player, who also has a strong connection with the centre having trained there when he was younger.”

Politicians and sports leaders joined the chorus for public recognition of Murray’s victory.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for the Lothians, said: “We have the Chris Hoy velodrome in Glasgow – why not an Andy Murray tennis stadium?”

Calls for the Craiglockhart tennis centre to be re-named came as bosses at Sport-
Scotland said they were hopeful Murray would attend an Olympic and Paralympic victory parade in Glasgow on Friday.

Next stop calton hill..or is it murray mound?

WHY stop at the obvious? There are a host of places and venues in Edinburgh that could be named after Scotland’s latest sporting superhero.

Calton Hill – or part of it – could be renamed Murray Mound. The Sassenachs have never been completely comfortable with the idea of losing their beloved Henman Hill so why not reclaim it from Wimbledon and have it here in the Capital?

They may not play tennis there but another candidate could be Murray(as in Andy Murray)field. The national rugby team surely wouldn’t be too put out if the first name of Scotland’s top sports personality was slipped into that of their home ground – at least for two weeks of the year.

And what self-respecting Capital city doesn’t have a public square, street or avenue named after the nation’s sporting legends? St Andrew Murray Square trips off the tongue, doesn’t it?