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Murray makes career commitment to play at Queen's
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 [January 12, 2017]
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's
world number one Andy Murray has committed to compete in the Aegon
Championships at The Queen’s Club for the rest of his career,
officials said on Wednesday.
The Wimbledon warm-up tournament has proved to be Murray's most
successful hunting ground, as he has hoisted the super-sized silver
cup a record five times.
Last year his Queen's Club triumph sparked off a season to remember
for the Scot, who won a second Wimbledon title and a second Olympic
gold medal before finishing as world number one.
"I’ve always loved playing the event and I’m really happy to know
that I will play at Queen’s for as long as my career lasts,” said
the 29-year-old Murray.
“My first ATP World Tour match win came at Queen’s in 2005, so for
it to become by far the most successful tournament of my career is a
great feeling.
"Looking at the names that have won the tournament four times - some
of the best players ever - winning it five times means a lot to me.”
The tournament is expanding its Centre Court capacity by 30 percent
from June. More than 2,000 additional seats will be added to the
current 6,942, taking capacity to more than 9,000.
“To know that Andy will play at The Queen’s Club for the rest of his
career... is a huge boost in what is an exciting and important year
for the Aegon Championships with our stadium capacity increasing by
30 percent," Aegon Championships tournament director Stephen Farrow
said.
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Murray serves the ball. REUTERS/Naseem Zeitoon
"Last
year, we celebrated our four-time winners Roy Emerson, John McEnroe,
Boris Becker and Lleyton Hewitt.
"This year, and for many years to come, Andy Murray will return as
our greatest champion in front of more people than ever before. We
couldn’t be happier.”
This year's tournament takes place from June 19-25.
At the same time as Murray pledged his career-long support for the
event, British broadcaster the BBC underlined its commitment by
extending its broadcast deal to 2024.
(Reporting by Pritha Sarkar, editing by Ken Ferris)
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