Andy Murray's newborn daughter '˜doing well' as Dunblane celebrates

Kim Sears reportedly gave birth to a baby girl at the weekend. Picture: Getty Images

The Dunblane tennis player’s wife gave birth to the girl on Sunday, prompting an influx of good wishes from fellow sports stars and members of the public.

Judy Murray tweeted a picture of the postbox in Dunblane, painted gold in honour of her son’s 2012 Olympic triumph, which was decorated with pink ribbons yesterday to mark the birth.

She wrote: “Dunblane baby love........xxx.”

The new grandmother also posted a picture by artist Nial Smith showing three tennis balls and a baby’s dummy, and she wrote with it: “Tennis family. #cute.”

Andy’s grandmother, Shirley Erskine, said she was thrilled at the arrival of the new addition to the family and said the family had not known what sex the baby was going to be.

She said: “Andy and Kim said from the outset that they didn’t want to know, so I’m assuming that they didn’t know and of course none of us knew, so it was nice to get a little surprise like that.”

Mrs Erskine, the mother of Judy Murray, told the BBC she received a text message from her grandson telling her about the birth.

“Andy had sent a text round all the family – one of these multimedia-type texts – and then I got a text from him saying something about ‘she’s doing well’ and I thought, ‘Oh something’s happened’,” she said.

She said there was no name yet for the baby and voiced hope the couple would head to Scotland with their child.

Hundreds of messages of support for the family have been posted online from members of the public.

And well-known figures have offered the couple – who married last year – their congratulations.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “Lovely news. Congratulations to @andy_murray and Kim on the birth of their daughter. Wishing every happiness.”

Former world number one tennis player Boris Becker said: “BIG Congrats to Kim/Andy for the arrival BabyMurray !!!”

Former British tennis star Annabel Croft, paralympic wheelchair tennis players Lucy Shuker and Jordanne Whiley and former Olympic champion Sally Gunnell were among the fellow athletes sending their early congratulations to the couple.

Organisations British Tennis, Team Scotland, the Elena Baltacha Foundation and the Davis Cup gave their best wishes to the new parents.

Broadcaster Gabby Logan said: “Kim and Andy Murray have had a baby girl – huge congrats.” And in a note to Judy, the presenter added: “@judmoo – great news for Fed Cup team 2036.”

The birth of the couple’s first child comes after a momentous 12-month period for Murray, the British number one and a double grand slam winner.

The couple, who live in Surrey and are both 28, married in Murray’s home town of Dunblane in April last year.

Murray spoke ahead of the Australian Open about the upcoming birth.

“It’s a big change coming. It’s very, very exciting,” he said.

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