Last year Standard Life launched an exclusive partnership with world class international tennis player, Andy Murray. As the partnership enters its second year, Murray will continue to wear the Standard Life logo as he competes in the world’s most prestigious tennis tournaments.
The relationship extends Standard Life’s brand recognition in all key markets, as well as associating the business with one of the world’s greatest athletes.
In March, Andy stopped by Standard Life’s offices in Edinburgh to discuss the highs and lows of international tennis, how he handles the pressure and what the future holds.
“Staying in the present is the hardest thing for me. It’s so easy to look ahead and forget about the point I’m trying to win at that moment,” he said. “So, I consciously try and slow myself down, as my tendency in these situations is to rush.”
He added that his overriding feeling on winning the Wimbledon was one of relief. “I enjoyed the feeling of winning two weeks later!” he laughed.
But tennis isn’t the only thing on the star’s mind this year. In April this year, Andy married his girlfriend of nine years, Kim Sears. “I feel really relaxed about the marriage thing,” he said. “It’s more the prospect of starting a family that makes me nervous. It’s such a life changing thing.”
On whether he was tempted to pursue anything other than tennis as a career, he said, “I decided at 15 I wanted to be a tennis player. I left school with no qualifications, so I guess I’d have gone into tennis coaching or stayed in the sport some other way.
“I do wish though that I had made more of an effort to stay in education. There’s a tendency to forget about that when you’re an athlete in training.”
Like Standard Life, while Andy’s story begins in Scotland, he is now recognized and respected internationally. He is a two-time Grand Slam winner, with his outstanding performances at the US Open in 2013, and on home turf at Wimbledon the same year, when he became the first British player to win the event since Fred Perry’s victory 77 years earlier. He also became an Olympic gold medallist after winning in the final against Roger Federer during the Olympic Games in 2012.
We look forward to cheering Andy on as he competes for his next tennis major over the next two years, while representing the Standard Life brand.
“Andy is a world class athlete who has succeeded at the very top of his profession through a combination of strong performance and a commitment to excellence. These qualities, along with his dedication and ambition, are very important to Standard Life and its people. He is an inspirational individual and we are excited to be in partnership with him,” David Nish, Standard Life Chief Executive, said.
Visit www.withandy.com to find out why Andy chose Standard Life, as well as videos of the tennis star talking about his career and his views on performance, determination, and sustainability.
