Judy Murray

Judy Murray is a great example for encouraging girls into sport - I think she could have spoken out a bit more strongly but I understand why she didnt. As an earlier poster said - tennis is a great example of the unequal balance between men and women in sport.

I think Judy has given a few hints over the years and she has worked extremely hard on getting systems in place to encourage girls to play tennis and sport in general.

I don't want to derail the thread as it's about Judy but I think the Andy Murray story has got confused with his reply when a journalist referred to the first American to reach a Wimbledon semi final for 20 years. Andy replied that it was the first US man, resulting in a delighted response from Serena Williams.

He would never refer to himself as an English man. It's often been said that the media refer to him as Scottish when he loses and British when he wins. Apparently that's a myth but he is definitely Scottish not English.

He also wasn't the first British man to win Wimbledon. The poor chap had the nightmare pressure of being the first British man to win the title for 77 years.

She seems to follow commen sense, which of course is that male-puberty bodies have an advantage over female-puberty bodies. Not that I see people as bodies, but clearly in sport the competition is linked to bodies.

Not her area of expertise

Oh , dearie, dearie me.

Oh I'm so happy! I was so disappointed that she hadn't spoken up especially as it seemed so wildly in contrast to everything else fantastic that she does.
(& yes to what PP say about Martina's bravery but she was always the bravest )

Chris Evert came out and supported Martina Navratilova and said she agreed.

Love that Andy Murray interview where he pushes back hard against the dimwit interviewer saying “how does it feel to be the first English player to win Wimbledon “ AM glares and says “first English MAN to win” and explained a woman had won before him. Any mother with a son with attitudes like that has done a good job!

That ratio is a thing of beauty

twitter.com/JudyMurray/status/1480961256752390144?s=20

Gold

She does say how very complicated it all is, which I don't agree with personally

I'm sure Judy doesn't actually think it's complicated at all, she just knows she has to say that for "balance".

Has anyone seen her skits with her 'third son', Duncan? I've seen them on Facebook. Really funny, she's a good sport

This is great news. If she gets piled on I am pretty sure her sons will back her which would be amazing. I know her voice is important in it’s own right but we need the men too!

Ah well done Judy. I've always quite liked her, even though she was naturally presented as some evil tiger mum in the early day's of Andy's career. I think she's done a good job of raising her son too.

Judy is a star. She does brilliant work for local communities and children and she's raised a proper sensible lad.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-40589164

Judy will be well aware that her son is not the only father of four still on the tour but that there are very few mothers and those that do manage to combine motherhood with top level sport do not have large families.

Thank you Judy Murray 💖

I've followed Judy for a while, she undoubtedly knows about the politics around this and the reception that women like Martina have had. She's a very clear supporter of women and girls in sport and women's rights generally but it's interesting that she's directly speaking out on this unfairness now, hopefully she doesn't come in for too much criticism.

I think if this trend starts reaching tennis, the people in power (mostly men) will actually start having to take notice. Women's sports are still generally considered secondary, the also-ran, with much less airtime and and not watched by the men in power unless it's at Olympic / National level or in tennis.

When Martina Navratilova spoke up a few years ago it felt like she was made to do that BBC one hour documentary to 'atone' and 'educate herself' and 'be kind'.

Tennis is one of those sports where fans seem to genuinely appreciate that the men's and women's game is different, but enjoy both

This. Yes, women's tennis does have men who follow it to see young women in short skirts. But fundamentally the game is different from the men's game. My DM is tennis mad and only watches women's as she says the men's game is boring.

Another Scottish woman speaks up! Is Nicola listening?

I like the Murrays! It will be interesting to see how much support she gets. Even Renee Richards has conceded that trans women have an unfair advantage now.

Always good to see people express support for protecting women’s sport, but I can’t help but feel the timing of people like Judy Murray coming out with this now just emphasises exactly how brave Martina was to take a stand on this 3 years ago.

Andy Murray has come up with some pro women views in tennis over the years, so I'm not surprised Judy says it's unfair.

She's hitting a zeitgeist of tide turning at the moment, so I wonder what sort of reaction she will get.

I can't believe she is unaware that she will get a reaction, though. So I think it's brave.

Judy, 62, told Radio Times magazine: “It could be really off-putting to female athletes to feel you could train for years to get to whatever level and then be knocked out or beaten by someone born with a physical strength advantage.

Pound to a penny she will be told to actually speak to some trans people, and how vulnerable they are, and therefore none of that matters.