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Tennis Star Andy Murray Says He Has Become a Feminist

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Andy Murray, Amelie Mauresmo london britain tennis queens club
Andy Murray of Britain shares a laugh with his new coach Amelie Mauresmo during a training session before his Queen's Club grass court championships tennis match in London on June 12, 2014.Sang Tan—AP
By Conal Urquhart

Andy Murray, the world no. 3 tennis player, says he has become a feminist after seeing the treatment his coach Amélie Mauresmo received at the hands of the media and critics.

Writing in his blog in L’Équipe, Murray writes that he knwe that his appointment of Mauresmo would be controversial because few male tennis players have female coaches:

I realised it would create a feeling of suspicion, mistrust and perhaps even negativity. I didn’t realise, however, that Amélie would find herself up against such criticism and prejudice. The staggering thing was that she was slated every time I lost, which is something my former coaches never ever experienced.

Murray asked if he had become a feminist:

Well, if being a feminist is about fighting so that a woman is treated like a man then yes, I suppose I have. My upbringing means that I’m quite attuned to the whole thing. I came to tennis thanks to my mother. I always had a very close relationship with my grandmothers. I’ve always been surrounded by women. I find it easier to talk to them. I find it easier to open up to them. It’s a crying shame there aren’t more female coaches.

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