Andy Murray has revealed that he would like to have children with his long-term girlfriend Kim Sears.
The Wimbledon champion reckons he is just past the halfway point of his playing career, and will most likely start a family after he retires. "I can see myself having a family," writes Andy in his new autobiography. "It is something that I'm starting to think about because Kim and I have been together for eight years."
The Scottish sports star is full of praise for his teenage sweetheart, who he says has always been "at the heart of it all". The couple first met at the US Open in 2005, when Kim was on holiday with her tennis coach father Nigel who was training Daniela Hantuchov. "Kim's always been there for me," writes Andy. "She really cares about me and helps with so many things. She also understands when I need to be by myself and when I need companionship, which might sound like it isn't much, but it's really fundamental. "People often comment on the amount of people you have travelling with you, like it's an entourage or something. That's not how it works. "Everyone has to justify their place, whether they're giving me the emotional support that I need or keeping me fit. Right at the heart of it all is Kim. "She is very savvy about people — she can see which of them are trying to leech on to me or who might want to be near me for their benefit rather than mine."
Apart from bonding over the sport, the British number one and his girlfriend share a passion for travel and are madly in love with their two Border terriers, Maggie May and Rusty. "We both love dogs," writes Andy. "It's not the same as having kids — or at least I don't think it is — but that's sometimes what it feels like. "Unlike Swiss tennis pro Roger Federer, who wanted his children to see him play, Andy said that it wasn't something he was "desperate" to start now, but would wait until he retires. "Yes, I would like to start a family and try to be a good father," said Andy, when the time comes. "That's important to me."
The much-loved athlete became the first British man to lift the Wimbledon trophy for 77 years, and in his autobiography, Andy shares his thoughts on the highlights of his career.
Andy Murray: Seventy-Seven: My Road to Wimbledon Glory, will be released on Thursday 7 November.