Andy Murray has been replaced by a younger stand-in during the creation of his long-awaited Wimbledon statue after the sculptor admitted the former champion is now "a bit gnarly" compared to his playing prime.
Artist David Williams-Ellis, who has been commissioned to create the bronze tribute for the All England Club's 150th anniversary celebrations in 2027, revealed he enlisted a 23-year-old athlete to recreate Murray's famous movement on court.
The two-time Wimbledon champion has been heavily involved in the project alongside his wife, Kim Sears, but Williams-Ellis explained he wanted the finished sculpture to depict Murray at the height of his career rather than as he appears today.
The life-size-plus sculpture will show Murray balancing on one foot while striking a shot, capturing the athleticism that helped him end Britain's 77-year wait for a men's Wimbledon singles champion in 2013 before lifting the title again in 2016.
Explaining why a body double was needed, Williams-Ellis said: "Andy at 38 is a bit gnarly."
He added: "Andy’s muscles are not as light or as fluid so I trawled everywhere to find a young athletic stand in – Andy is quite stocky and muscular so the person that stands in has to be strong enough to do the pose.
"He needed to be similar and Andy is really quite big.
"It's really important to find a good model and I found this guy called Joe who has been brilliant."
Andy Murray has been replaced by a younger stand-in during the creation of his long-awaited Wimbledon statue after the sculptor admitted the former champion is now "a bit gnarly" compared to his playing prime
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Andy Murray pictured watching the action at Wimbledon alongside the Princess of Wales
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The sculptor revealed he has spent around nine months working on the statue, studying approximately 150 photographs and video clips of Murray frame by frame to ensure every detail of the pose is authentic.
Joe has recreated countless positions in the Oxfordshire studio, while Murray himself has also visited to pose for the artwork and help refine the final design.
Williams-Ellis said his aim is not simply to capture Murray's appearance, but also his personality.
"What I want to capture in the sculpture is movement and energy and what I hope I will also capture is Andy's determination and also his incredibly nice soft side," he explained.
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Five things to know about Wimbledon | GB NEWS"As you watch him on television, you're in awe of him and he appears quite aggressive but that's when he is playing but actually when he is off the court, he has a laconic, wonderful smile and a very dry sense of humour."
Murray has remained closely involved throughout the process, with Williams-Ellis revealing the former world No 1 had just one major concern.
"Andy’s only concern was that it didn't end up like some of the sporting sculptures you see around at stadiums around the world," he said.
The finished bronze sculpture will stand on a plinth at an as-yet undisclosed location within the Wimbledon grounds before being unveiled during the Championships in 2027.
Andy Murray won Wimbledon twice during his playing days
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Williams-Ellis admitted the pressure of doing justice to one of Britain's greatest sporting icons has already cost him sleep.
"We have all seen sculptures that have not been a success – mentioning no names - and I don't want this to be one of those and I aim not to be," he said.
Murray first won Wimbledon in 2013, beating Roger Federer in the final.
Three years later he secured his second crown at SW19, with Milos Raonic overcome on that occasion.