The family of former British Tennis N0.1 Andy Murray have branded a new promotional artwork unveiled ahead of this year’s Wimbledon Championships “appalling at every level” after it omitted the two-time champion.
The painting, distributed by the All England Club on Tuesday on social media, is meant to depict Wimbledon’s famous rivalries and features two current players, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, standing in the centre of the clubhouse. Behind them on the stairs is Roger Federer with an arm around each of his most implacable opponents: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
However, Murray, who ended a 77-year drought for male Britons at Wimbledon in 2013 and won again in 2016, is absent from the picture.
Murray’s brother Jamie responded to the AELTC’s post on Instagram with a simple comment saying “Where’s Andy Murray?”
Later, speaking to reporters at Queen’s, Jamie Murray was asked whether he thought the omission was disrespectful.
“I thought so,” he replied. “I mean he was part of the big four for 10 years, maybe more. Obviously he was No 1 in the world and then he smashed up his hip, and since then it’s been tough going for him.
“But he won the singles twice in an incredible era of tennis and made another final.
“I thought it was a bit of a slight, especially with everything that he brought to the tournament for so long. The whole country was falling in behind his journey to try to become the champion – but there you go.’
Andy’s uncle, Niall Erskine, was also outspoken in an angry Twitter outburst: “Appalling at every level,” wrote Erskine. “All about the men in the forefront and your own British history maker nowhere to be seen. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
The painting was created by Grant Gruenhaupt, an illustrator who specialises in sporting scenes, and who also provided the All England Club with promotional artwork during last year’s Wimbledon.
Responding to Jamie Murray’s query on Instagram, Gruenhaupt wrote “Worry not Jamie, there are more paintings on the way.”
The 10th anniversary of Andy Murray’s first Wimbledon title is due on July 7.