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Andy Murray pleads for protesters to stay away as Wimbledon prep their security
Andy Murray pleads for protesters to stay away as Wimbledon prep their security,British tennis star Andy Murray, who begins his Wimbledon campaign on Tuesday, has spoken out on the potential disruption by Just Stop Oil protesters at The Championships

Andy Murray pleads for protesters to stay away as Wimbledon prep their security

Andy Murray has pleaded for eco-warriors to find different ways to protest and not disrupt Wimbledon.

The All England Club is braced for The Championships to be the latest big sporting event to be targeted by Just Stop Oil campaigners. Security has been beefed up as a result and it understood extra resources will be focussed on the famous cue, where tennis fans wait to snap up remaining tickets.

The Ashes Test at Lord’s, the Grand National, the Premiership rugby final and the World Snooker Championship are among the events to have been targeted this year, with orange paint powder thrown as part of a campaign to oppose fossil fuel projects.

Wimbledon have stepped up bag searches, even testing a system by placing packets of red lentils in bags entering the site. Father-of-four Murray sympathises with Just of Oil’s cause but not their method of protest.

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“I would imagine probably something would happen here. I agree with the cause – just not always how they go about expressing it,” said the two-time Wimbledon champion.

“Rather than running on the court, maybe they could do it a different way. I didn’t see what Jonny Bairstow [who carried a protester off the field at Lord’s on Wednesday] did, but it could be dangerous.

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Andy Murray begins his Wimbledon campaign on Tuesday against fellow Brit Ryan Peniston (Image: GETTY)

“I don’t know if they would attach themselves to the net or throw something onto the court – they have to be a bit careful going too near to tennis players who have obviously got rackets in their hands!”

Wimbledon have advised players not to take matters into their own hands like Bairstow. Meanwhile, the Government has sped up changes to the Public Order Act 2023 which will see 12-month prison sentences for protesters who block roads and a six-month prison sentence or unlimited fine for anyone who locks themselves to objects or buildings.

Jonny Bairstow carried the Just Stop Oil Protester off the pitch
Jonny Bairstow carried the Just Stop Oil Protester off the pitch at Lord's (Image: PA)

Murray added: “I am not sure how many times I have had somebody run on the court when I am actually playing. It may have been once but I am not sure it has been more than that.

“I was talking about it with my family the other day. I don’t know, if somebody ran onto the court and came towards you, what your reaction would be to that because you don’t know who it is or what they are doing or why they are doing it.”