Andy Murray is set to attend the unveiling of the Andy Murray Arena at Queen’s Club tomorrow. The British tennis legend, who holds a record five titles at the London tournament, will be honored with a temporary renaming of the venue for this year’s event.
Express Sport explores five tennis players who have had stadiums named in their honor.
Andy Murray
On Monday, a ceremony at Queen’s Club will celebrate Murray’s achievements, as he holds the record for the most men’s singles titles with five. This week also marks the return of the women’s singles event at the club after a 52-year absence, with Murray playing a prominent role in the occasion.
LTA chief executive Scott Lloyd praised Andy Murray as the finest tennis player the UK has ever produced and a towering figure in British sport, adding that the organisation is honoured to name the Queen’s Club tournament arena after him.
Rafa Nadal
In 2017, the Barcelona Open honoured one of tennis’s all-time greats by naming its centre court Pista Rafa Nadal, which translates to Rafa Nadal Arena.
Nadal, who secured an incredible 12 titles at the tournament in addition to his 22 Grand Slam victories, retired at the end of last year after battling injuries in the later stages of his career.
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe made history as the first Black player to win a Grand Slam, claiming his first major title at the 1968 US Open, and later adding victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon to his remarkable career.
These remarkable accomplishments have been recognized with great honors; Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world’s largest tennis venue built specifically for the sport, seats 23,000 fans and has served as the main court for the US Open at Flushing Meadows since replacing Louis Armstrong Stadium in 1997.
Margaret Court
Margaret Court, whose name fittingly reflects her legacy, has had the Australian Open’s centre court named in her honor since 2003, celebrating Australia’s most successful player who won an impressive 24 Grand Slam titles during the 1960s and 70s.
Suzanne Lenglen
Court Suzanne-Lenglen, the French Open’s second-largest stadium after Court Philippe-Chatrier also named for a celebrated French player honors one of women’s tennis’ earliest stars, who dominated the 1920s with six Wimbledon titles and two victories at the tournament now known as the French Open before the Open era.
Lenglen, a champion with seven Wimbledon and two French Open doubles titles, tragically passed away at the young age of 39 following a brief illness.
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