Jamie Murray’s wife "won’t let him" appear on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ – because she doesn’t think the dance routines are authentic.
The 33-year-old British tennis champion – who is the brother of Wimbledon singles winner Sir Andy Murray – says it’s unlikely that he will follow in the footsteps of his mother Judy Murray and compete on the BBC One ballroom show because his Colombian spouse Alejandra Gutierrez hates the way that the couples have to perform routines like the salsa to pop songs.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph newspaper, he said: "No, no, my wife wouldn’t let me [appear on ‘Strictly’]. She’s an amazing dancer, being South American, but she doesn’t like it when they do the salsa or tango to pop music. She doesn’t think it’s pure."
Judy was partnered professional Anton du Beke in 2014 and got to week eight of the competition.
Jamie also revealed his wife Alejandra is not a big fan of tennis, despite him being one of one of the best doubles players in the world, and would rather focus on her career as a global marketing manager for a large tech firm rather than join him on the ATP tour.
He added: "It’s not that exciting for a wife or girlfriend on the tour. Ale has two degrees anyway, so she said, ‘I’m not going to study all that time just to follow your around and wait in players’ lounges to watch you do your job.’ It was her who helped me get serious about my tennis again, serious about life again. She was a huge support, and probably the reason for me achieving what I’ve been able to in the past few years. I don’t know if I’d have [been world number one] if I hadn’t met her."
Jamie also went on to reveal that the most common misconception about his life is that his mother Judy, 59, controlled his and his 32-year-old brother Andy’s tennis development with an "iron fist".
He said: "I think people thought she really ruled with an iron fist, and was a pushy parent, which is totally, totally wrong. She’d only be seen in the players’ box, cheering on, which is a stressful environment, but they built up this persona about her. She was sold as the driving force of it all, and did do an amazing job, but my dad would never have got headlines. He was just a normal dad with a regular job, not a tennis person."
Jamie Murray’s wife won’t let him compete on Strictly Come Dancing
