TOGETHER for nearly two decades and with four children, tennis pro Andy Murray and wife Kim Sears have one of the most solid relationships in sport.
The couple wed in 2015 and dated for ten years before that, and loyal Kim is often court-side at Andy’s matches – meaning fans will hope to catch a glimpse of her as he competes in the men’s doubles at the Paris Olympics.
Earlier this week Andy, 37, and on-court partner Dan Evans miraculously reached the quarter-finals of the men’s Olympic doubles with a sensational tie-breaker victory over Belgian duo Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen.
The tournament is regarded his ‘swansong’ from the sport, as he gets set to retire, tearfully paying tribute to Kim at his last ever Wimbledon last month.
Looking to the stands, he tearfully said: “I’d better say something about my wife, because I’ll get in trouble if I don’t, but this is probably gonna be the hard part.
“She’s been an amazing, amazing support to me, to my whole family, is the best mum.
“Unfortunately, in a couple of months, she’s gonna have to see me every day, so things might be rocky for a little while… Hopefully we can stick it out together, and I’m looking forward to the rest of our lives.”
The pair were just 18 when they met for the first time at the US Open, where Kim’s dad was working as a tennis coach, with Andy later admitting he was “lucky” to have met her before his career took off.
“I know she isn’t with me because I’m in the spotlight,” he said.
I then stood up and vomited on my opponent’s racket bag. And she still seemed to like me, so I knew she was a keeper after that.”
Andy Murray
Speaking about how he almost fluffed it on their first date, Andy recalled: “I choked a little bit the first time we went out. I walked her home to her hotel, and I asked her for her email address.
“I don’t think that’s a normal thing to do.”
Speaking recently, Andy also admitted: “The first match [of mine] she came to watch live was at the US Open, and I vomited twice in that match, once right in front of where she was sitting.
“I then stood up and vomited on my opponent’s racket bag. And she still seemed to like me, so I knew she was a keeper after that.”
The pair are known for being incredibly private, but they delighted everyone when they went public with their romance in 2006, kissing to celebrate Andy winning the SAP Open in California.
During the tender moment, Andy jumped over the advertising hoarding to kiss Kim – who’d expected him to lose so pulled a sicky to stay and watch – in celebration.
“[The photo] was on the front cover of the paper so I was busted,” she said, and after that Kim was spotted at almost every one of his games while studying English at university.
While Kim has always been there to support Andy’s career, the tennis ace has always been quick to emphasise there are more important things in life than his work, saying: “Tennis is important to me, but it’s not the most important thing.
“My family and friends are more important. The job obviously matters, but what goes on off the court is bigger.’
2005: Kim Sears and Andy Murray meet at the US Open.
2006: The pair go public when Murray kisses Kim after he won his first tournament.
2009: The couple briefly split – but are back together the following year.
2014: Andy proposes and the couple are engaged.
2015: They marry at Dunblane Cathedral on April 11.
2016: Their eldest daughter Sophia is born.
2017: Second child Edie arrives.
2019: Kim gives birth to a baby boy, Teddy.
2021: Youngest daughter Lola is born.
However, the path to true love never did run smooth, and Kim and Andy temporarily split up – albeit amicably – in 2009, with Kim said to have won ‘custody’ of their border terrier, Maggie.
However the pair were reunited six months later, and went on to wed in Andy’s hometown of Dunblane, Scotland in 2015.
“I work better in a relationship,” Murray had previously said. “At the end of the day, especially if I’ve lost a match, I don’t like talking about tennis, so it’s nice to have someone to talk to about other stuff.”
Kim’s commitment to Andy’s craft is something he is quick to acknowledge and appreciate, and her support knows no limit.
In an incredibly understanding move, newlywed Kim even delayed their honeymoon so Andy could attend a tennis training camp – the ultimate sign of true love if ever there was one.
Over the years the couple have welcomed four kids – Sophia, in 2016, Edie in 2017, Teddy in 2019 and their youngest Lola in 2021.
Speaking after becoming a parent for the first time, Andy said: “My priority is to be a good father first.
”Id rather be getting up in the middle of the night and helping [with Sophia] than winning every tennis match and her thinking when she grows up: “Actually, you know what, he was a s****y dad but he won a lot of tennis matches so, you know, well done.”
Despite winning three grand slam titles and two Wimbledon trophies, speaking in 2021 he admitted his proudest achievement is actually getting all four children to bed on time.
And it’s clear family will always come first for the star – in part, because of the huge amount of strength they’ve provided throughout his career.
Battling injury before deciding to retire, Andy said last year: “Obviously my family have been unbelievably supportive of my career when they could have easily asked me to stop.”
Now, as he finally bids farewell to the sport he knows and loves at the Olympics, fans will be hoping he can bag one last medal.
Speaking after Wimbledon, he said: “I would love to keep playing, but I can’t.
“Physically it’s too tough now. All of the injuries have added up. I want to play forever, I love the sport.
“It’s given me so much, taught me loads of lessons that I can use in the rest of my life. I don’t want to stop, so it’s hard.”
However as one door closes another opens, as they say – and retirement means more time to spend with Kim and their young family.
