LONDON (AP) — Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray is to help design a statue of himself to mark the grass-court tournament’s 150th anniversary in 2027.
Wimbledon organizers said Tuesday they aim to unveil the statue of the British tennis great during the 2027 edition.
“He’s got to rightly be very involved in that and him and his team will be,” the All England Club chairwoman Debbie Jevans said.
Murray ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a home champion in men’s singles in 2013 when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.
The Scotsman won a second title — and his third Grand Slam singles title overall — in the 2016 final against Milos Raonic.
An inspiration for the statue project is the way Rafael Nadal was honored, with Murray in attendance, this month at Roland-Garros where he won 14 French Open titles.
“We looked at Rafa Nadal having that sort of plaque unveiled to him at Roland-Garros which was all very special,” Jevans said. “But we thought, what do we want for Andy?”
A bronze statue of Fred Perry, the previous British men’s champion before Murray in 1936, was put up at Wimbledon in 1984 marking 50 years after his first singles title at the tournament.
The 2025 tournament at Wimbledon starts Monday.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
FILE - Andy Murray of Britain poses with the trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men's singles final match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, July 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner is one set away from a first Wimbledon title, leading defending champion Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday's men's final.
Sinner broke Alcaraz for a 5-4 lead in the third set in the highly anticipated meeting that comes just five weeks after the pair played an epic match to determine the French Open champion.
In the second set, Sinner broke Alcaraz in the opening game and then held serve the rest of the way. That was despite being interrupted by a fan in the stands popping open a champagne bottle as Sinner was getting ready to serve out the game at 2-1 up. The cork landed at Sinner's feet, causing Alcaraz to raise both hands and shake his head in frustration.
Sinner lost the following point but went on to hold for a 3-1 lead.
The matchup at Centre Court between the No. 1-ranked Sinner and No. 2 Alcaraz marks the first time the same two men faced off in the title matches on the clay at Roland-Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did it in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Alcaraz, a 22-year-old from Spain, defeated Sinner, a 22-year-old from Italy, in five sets spread over 5 hours, 29 minutes in Paris on June 8, coming back from a two-set deficit and saving three match points along the way.
That made Alcaraz 5-0 in Grand Slam finals, including victories in 2023 and 2024 at Wimbledon.
He also carries a career-best 24-match winning streak into Sunday and has beaten Sinner five times in a row.
Sinner owns three major trophies and is playing in his fourth consecutive Slam final — but first at the All England Club.
He won the U.S. Open last September and the Australian Open this January.
Sinner is wearing the tape and arm sleeve to protect his right elbow that he has been using since falling in the opening game of his fourth-round win on Monday. After eliminating 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, Sinner said he didn't think his elbow would be an issue on Sunday.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, watches Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their men's singles final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain returns to Jannik Sinner of Italy during the men's singles final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Italy's Jannik Sinner returns to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)
Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain slips as he returns a shot by Italy's Jannik Sinner in the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)
Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Britain's Prince William, right, Kate, Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at the Royal Box to watch Jannik Sinner of Italy and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their men's singles final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Crowds pack the stands of Centre Court before Italy's Jannik Sinner plays Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Jannik Sinner of Italy and Novak Djorkovic of Serbia shake hands after the men's semifinal singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 11, 2025.(AP Photo/Joanna Chan)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning the men's semifinal singles match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Friday, July 11, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
FILE - Winner Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, right, and second placed Italy's Jannik Sinner pose with trophies after the final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
