Serena Williams took to social media to thank Andy Murray for “speaking up for women” and congratulated him on his “incredible career” in tennis.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, was honoured at his final Wimbledon in a ceremony on Centre Court on Thursday night. Murray and Williams played mixed doubles together at the All England Club in 2019, and the American also commented on Murray’s sulky on-court attitude.
“Congratulations, Andy Murray, on a fantastic career,” Williams said in a video on social media platform X. “I have to say I’ve always enjoyed watching you play, and one of the main reasons for that is because you’ve always been one of the few players on the court who’s angrier than me, which is hard to do.”
“But for me, it was the most exciting thing to watch and it was an amazing experience to play mixed doubles next to you at Wimbledon,” Williams added. “It really was one of the highlights of my life.”
The 23-time Grand Slam champion added: “I’m so grateful for that experience and you also hold a special place in my heart because you always speak up for women and all that they deserve.”
Andy Murray pic.twitter.com/Gp56oiyDVt
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) July 5, 2024
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Murray broke new ground when he hired Amelie Mauresmo as his coach in 2014, while he frequently covers women’s tennis and had a memorable moment in a 2017 press conference correcting a reporter who had overlooked the achievements of American women’s players, which was included in the tribute montage played on Centre Court.
“You’ve been a leader in that regard. So many things you said about me and Venus and how inspiring we’ve always been and what we meant to you just resonated so deeply with me,” Williams added.
“I’ll always be grateful for that, and I’ll always be grateful for the support that you’ve given me, the support that you’ve given women and the excitement that you’ve brought to the world of tennis,” the 42-year-old continued.
“Watching you win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and winning gold medals was so exciting. It was so much fun. As you already know, I’ve always been a fan of yours. Whatever you do next, I will always continue to support and root for you.”
