TENNIS star Andy Murray has said his marriage to Sussex wife Kim Sears has helped his performance on the court.

On Sunday the Scottish sportsman beat Rafael Nadal in straight sets to become the Mutua Madrid Open champion, claiming the 6-3 6-2 victory in less than 90 minutes.

After the game, the former Wimbledon champion, wrote “Marriage Works!” on the lens of a television camera.

He married his long-term girlfriend Kim Sears, who grew up in Lewes, last month in front of family and friends at Dunblane Cathedral in a ceremony dubbed ‘Scotland’s Royal Wedding.’ The pair, both now 27, had been in a relationship for nine years and announced their engagement in November.

“Marriage has been nice and a lot of people have spoken about the honeymoon period,” he told a Sky Sports 3.

“But we’ve been together a very long time and getting married was the next step.

“I’ve always said if the personal stuff is happy and under control that helps your performance on the court.

“But I also feel healthy this year and I have trained well, I'm in much better shape on the clay than I have been for a number of years.”

Kim, who grew up near Lewes and went to Burgess Hill School for Girls, had been a regular feature at many of Murray’s high profile matches including his recent Wimbledon campaigns.

The couple’s romance dates back to the French Open in 2005 – when the pair was aged just 18 and 17.

Her father is the former Lawn Tennis Association head of women’s tennis Nigel Sears.

Judy Murray, Andy’s mother, once described Kim as “the best thing to happen to Andy.”

The British tennis number one sported a blue and green kilt on the day while his wife-to-be wore an embroidered white gown with three-quarter-length sleeves and a long veil.

Murray's brother Jamie, parents Judy and William, grandparents Shirley and Roy Erskine and former British tennis number one Tim Henman and his wife Lucy were among the guests.

The wedding attracted hundreds of visitors to the Scottish town, eager to catch a glimpse of the couple and wish them well.

The couple smiled and laughed and waved to the crowds as they left the wedding venue for their reception which was held at Murray’s Cromlix Hotel on the outskirts of Dunblane.

background

ANDREW Barron “Andy” Murray has been a rising tennis talent for some time.

But he only just tackled his first career clay court title a week ago at the Munich Open.

His second victory on Sunday earned him the tenth 1,000 Masters title of his career but his first such title on the red surface he has traditionally struggled on.

He was born on May 15 1987 and began playing tennis aged three.

He entered his first competitive tournament aged five and was playing league tennis by the time he was eight.

He won Wimbledon in 2013.