ANDY Murray has said that there is a “good chance” of Just Stop Oil protesters disrupting Wimbledon but that they should be careful of getting too close to players.
Speaking ahead of his first-round match at the annual grass court tournament, Murray said that anxieties over whether protesters would target the event were justified.
It comes after Just Stop Oil activists recently interrupted proceedings at the Grand National, the World Snooker Championship, and the Ashes.
“I think there is probably a good chance of something happening here,” he said.
“I was talking about it with my family the other day. I don’t know, if somebody ran onto the court and came towards you, what your reaction would be to that because you don’t know who it is or what they are doing or why they are doing it.”
England cricketer Johnny Bairstow was recently seen physically carrying a Just Stop Oil protester off the pitch at Lords after the group disrupted play.
But Wimbledon have warned player not to “do a Bairstow” and avoid trying to end the protests themselves.
“I didn’t see what Jonny Bairstow did, but it could be dangerous,” added Murray.
“If they would attach themselves to the net or throw something onto the court – they have to be a bit careful going too near to tennis players who have obviously got rackets in their hands.
“I agree with the cause – just not always how they go about expressing it. Rather than running on the court, maybe they could do it a different way.”
