Andy Murray gets engaged to girlfriend of nine years Kim Sears
- The Wimbledon champion's representatives have confirmed engagement
- Miss Sears has been in a relationship with Murray for more than nine years
- Proposal puts an end to years of speculation about the couple's future
Tennis star Andy Murray has proposed to Kim Sears, his partner of more than nine years.
The Wimbledon champion's representatives have confirmed the engagement, but have not released details or where the proposal took place.
Sussex-born Miss Sears, who has an English Literature degree, has been in a relationship with Murray after the pair met at the U.S. Open in 2005. Her father is player-turned-coach Nigel Sears.
The 27-year-old has admitted he couldn't have come back to win Wimbledon in 2013 following his 2012 defeat if it hadn't been for her unwavering support.
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Engaged at last: Tennis star Andy Murray has proposed to Kim Sears, his partner of more than nine years
Look of love: Left, a candid moment between the pair, and right, after winning Olympic gold in 2012
Unlike many football WAGS, Miss Sears, 26, shys away from the spotlight as she focuses on her career as an artist and looks after the couple's beloved dogs Maggie May and Rusty at their home in Surrey.
She was once described by future mother-in-law Judy Murray as 'the best thing to happen to Andy'.
Mrs Murray has kept mum so far - but she cheekily re-tweeted this message from her 'patron penguin' at St Andrews Aquarium in Fife: 'There was me thinking if it all fell through with @MontyThePenguin then the was still @andy-murray to waddle down the aisle with me....'
The Mirror reports the tennis player had been planning the ring for some time.
A source is said to have told the newspaper: 'Andy spent ages thinking about the ring, he chose the design himself and picked it up last week. He then proposed on Wednesday.
'Kim said 'yes' immediately. They are completely besotted with each other and have been there for each other through thick and thin.'
Murray was on his way to the Philippines on Wednesday to play in the International Premier Tennis League.
But he gave no indication of his big news, instead tweeting: 'Off to the Philippines for the first time today, should be a fun trip... Anyone got some suggestions for first time tourists in Manila?'
In June it was reported that bookies believed the Scot had asked Sears to marry him - after a flurry of betting on him popping the question at Wimbledon.
Tennis fans bet heavily on the champion to both retain his 2013 title and get engaged at 8/1 with bookmaker William Hill, which eventually stopped taking bets on it.
A spokesman said: 'That price was backed heavily. It indicates to us that he got engaged. Maybe someone saw him buying a ring?'
British tennis player Andy Murray poses with the 2013 Wimbledon trophy along with his fiancee Kim Sears during the Wimbledon Champions Dinner in July 2013, a day after he won the men's singles final match
Victor: Andy Murray of Great Britain climbs into his player's box to celebrate with friends, family and members of his coaching team following his victory in 2013
Kiss for a champion: Kim Sears reacts at the men's final at Wimbledon in July 2013
In the past Murray has been notoriously reluctant to answer questions about his relationship with Sears but earlier this year he was forced to deny that he planned to marry her after joking about his love life on Twitter.
Asked when he plans to marry Miss Sears during a Twitter Q&A with fans in January, Murray responded: 'We're getting married just after Wimbledon, should be a great day.'
But just hours later, Murray was forced to issue another tweet explaining that his words were said with his tongue firmly in cheek after the original message went viral.
Domesticity: The pair pop out to do some shopping in 2010
The tennis star's mother Judy and Sears celebrate his Wimbledon win over Stanislas Wawrinka in June 2009
Murray holds the British flag aloft following his 2012 Olympic triumph over Roger Federer
He tweeted: '3 things.. I don't smoke grass, I'm not getting married(yet) and I don't want to kill rafael Nadal.. [sic]'
At the time a spokesman for the star confirmed that 'Andy Murray is not getting married this summer.'
In a previous interview with the Scottish Daily Mail he spoke about his relationship with Miss Sears and confessed that he would like children with her in future.
He said: 'I can see myself having a family one day. It is something that I'm starting to think about because Kim and I have been together for eight years.'
Family: Andy Murray and Kim Sears at the wedding of his brother Jamie Murray to Alejandra Gutierrez
It emerged today that Murray has dispensed with the services of his longstanding assistant coach Dani Vallverdu and respected physical trainer Jez Green.
The two have been working with him for five and seven years respectively, and were key members of his team when Ivan Lendl became head coach and Murray enjoyed success including a U.S. Open title, Olympic gold medal and his historic Wimbledon triumph.
In releasing a statement this afternoon, he reaffirmed his commitment to working with Amelie Mauresmo next year, with whom he teamed up at the start of this summer's grass court season.
One love: The story of Kim and Andy
Murray has been living with Kim in Surrey since 2010 but she is forced to spend a lot of time apart from him while he travels the world competing in tournaments.
He once said: 'She has been with me since the second time I played Wimbledon, just after the first summer I played.
'It has been good because her dad is a tennis coach and he still travels on the tour. She understands the sport well and is used to being away from her dad from a young age. She understands that sort of distant relationship, and yes it works well.'
It is said the couple do not live a champagne lifestyle - preferring to play Scrabble and backgammon at home in Oxshott.
Early days: Andy Murray with girlfiend Kim Sears celebrates his win over Lleyton Hewitt in 2006
Sears grew up in the village of Barcombe in West Sussex. Her father is Nigel Sears, the head coach of women's tennis in the UK, and the sport dominated her family life.
Even before she became Murray's girlfriend, she had travelled the world to attend Grand Slam events.
Murray reportedly wooed her with phone calls and flowers. Even then, she was not distracted by the romance, passing all her A-levels with straight As.
She then joined Team Murray and became her boyfriend's chauffeur. He bought her a £40,000 Mercedes to thank her for patiently ferrying him around.
He added: 'I'm lucky. I know Kim isn't with me because I'm in the spotlight. When we met I was playing qualifiers.'
The couple split in November 2009 after four years together but, after seven months apart, got back together.
In an interview in 2009 he added that he felt he was naturally a one-woman man. 'It isn't that I have anything against people who want to go drinking and find as many girls as they can.
'I don't disagree with it, but it doesn't interest me that much. I don't know whether that's because I've got an older head on my shoulders or because I'm lucky to have Kim.'
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