According to Andy Murray, marriage works. At least, that’s what he wrote on a TV camera after defeating Rafael Nadal in the 2015 Madrid Open. And it’s clear to anyone who sees Murray with his wife of nine years, Kim Sears, that the statement rings true.
The couple, who met in 2005 and tied the knot a decade later, seem to have a beautifully balanced relationship. There’s rarely a game where you don’t see Sears in the stands cheering Murray on—and Murray isn’t exactly shy about telling the world just how important his wife’s support and sacrifices have been for his career.
“She has been brilliant,” he has said in many interviews, as well as in the 2019 Amazon documentary Andy Murray: Resurfacing.
It’s pretty clear that for Murray, it’s not only marriage that’s the key to his success on the court but the woman that he’s married to—and she’s got a pretty interesting story of her own.
Who Is Andy Murry’s Wife, Kim Sears?
Kim Sears Murray is an artist from Sussex, England. She was born on 10 December 1987, making her about a year younger than her now-husband, Sir Andy Murray. His knighthood technically makes her ‘Lady Murray’ in a formal sense – something which Andy has joked about, saying “no more swearing during my matches any more”.
Her fierce support of him (and sense of humour) have been a part of his career. But while you might think being married to a tennis world champion would teach you everything there is to know about the sport, Murray wasn’t Sears’ first introduction to tennis.
Sears is actually the daughter of renowned tennis coach Nigel Sears, who is responsible for coaching a handful of former top-five players, including Amanda Coetzer, Daniela Hantuchová and Ana Ivanovic.
Before meeting Murray, Sears studied English Literature at Sussex University and has since pursued writing and art in her career.
Murray has previously spoken about how this upbringing gave Sears’ a unique understanding of the demands of the sport.
“She was used to being away from her dad a lot, and then also used to being around tennis as well. When we’re at the tournaments, she obviously has a good understanding of what it is that I’m doing.”
How Did Andy Murray And Kim Sears Meet?
If you guessed that tennis had something to do with this couple’s first encounter, then you would be right. Sears and Murray met at the 2005 U.S. Open, when they both attended the same party. However, the couple didn’t officially start dating until 2006.
The first pictures of the couple emerged a few months later, when the pair were caught celebrating Murray’s 2006 SAP Tennis Open win with a kiss.
Sears has been seen at many games since then and has even made news herself. In one infamous incident at the 2015 Australian Open, she was criticised for an outburst of swearing that some considered racist towards Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych. But she followed it up a few days later by wearing a shirt that said ‘Parental Warning: Explicit Content’ – giving the world an insight into her sense of humour.
The Daily Mail reported that Andy Murray said tension played a role when he was asked about it.
“When there’s a lot of tension surrounding something which you (the media) created, then it’s completely normal that the whole first set everyone was tight,” he said.
When Did Andy Murray And Kim Sears Get Married?
The pair dated for nine years before getting engaged in November 2014, and officially tying the knot in April 2015.
Sears wore a Swarovski crystal-encrusted ivory gown from British designer Jenny Packham. The dress featured a full skirt, elbow-length sleeves and an open V-shaped back. For the tennis star, he donned a traditional Scottish kilt in his family colours to honour his heritage at the special occasion.
The wedding ceremony was held at Dunblane Cathedral in Murray’s hometown of Dunblane, Scotland, while the reception was held at Cromlix House, which Murray purchased in 2013.
Notably, the couple chose to forgo the celebrity guest list and only chose to invite “everyone who we’re close to, people we’ve spent a lot of time with in the past but also people we see ourselves spending time with in the future,” Murray told the Telegraph.
This sentiment is echoed in their choice to have the reception at Cromlix House, which they still run as a luxury hotel. According to the website: “In 1982, Andy’s grandparents, Roy and Shirley Erskine, held their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel – its first function after being converted from a family home. Since then, Golden and Diamond celebrations followed for the couple, as well as blessings, birthdays and three weddings for the Murray family – including Kim and Andy’s in 2015.”
Do Andy Murray And Kim Sears Have Children?
The couple have four children aged between 3 and 8 years old in 2024. In fact, it was just months after the couple tied the knot when news broke that they were expecting their first child. Sears gave birth to their first daughter, Sophia Olivia on 7 February 2016.
The couple’s second daughter Edie was born in 2017, followed by son Tedd ie in 2019 and daughter Lola in 2021. Like other high profile families, Sears and Murray have chosen to keep their children almost entirely out of the public eye.
What Does Kim Sears Do for Work?
Sears is a talented artist who is known for her stunning still life paintings and pet portraits. She’s also written a book inspired by her dog Maggie, titled How To Look After Your Humans: A Dog Guide.
She’s also kept busy with Cromlix House, their five-star hotel in Perthshire, Scotland.
But since Andy Murray has retired from professional tennis, following his Paris Olympic matches, who knows what’s next for the couple and their family?
One thing seems sure: they are bound to spend some quality time together. In the 2019 Amazon documentary, Murray revealed that his injuries and recovery had put strain on them.
“It put a lot of strain on our relationship, just because I was down all the time,” he said.
With that strain gone, the couple and their family seem set for a happy future.
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
