Andy Murray motivated by Ukraine at Wimbledon after vow to donate prize money to victims of war

Andy Murray is motivated to go on a lucrative winning run at Wimbledon next week in a bid to help children affected by the invasion of Ukraine.

In March, Murray pledged to donate his prize money to UNICEF specifically for projects in Ukraine and said it would give him an additional push when taking to the court at his home Grand Slam.

The two-time Wimbledon champion said: “It gives me a little bit of extra motivation to try and perform well and win matches. That is why I decided to do it.

“There are familes and children trying to leave the country. There are also families whose homes are getting destroyed. I didn’t really know what else there is that you can do to necessarily help.

“It makes you feel like you want to do something to help. I don’t know, that felt like the best thing that I could do so that was why I did it.”

He said what his donated money was being spent on was ever changing in a country still immersed in war but said he had chased a push for continued education for children affected in Ukraine.

Murray’s form on grass at the Stuttgart Open suggests he could pull off a good run at Wimbledon in his quest for a third title and a cheque for £2million.

And although his build-up has been curtailed by an abdominal strain, he said he was aiming for the latter stages of the tournament.

“I do believe that if I’m physically in a good spot and I have prepared well that I still believe there are great performances in me against the best players… so that is one of the reasons why I am still playing.

“Not just to play a second-round match against Oscar Otte [who he beat in five sets last year] but to play the final of Wimbledon against Djokovic or Nadal or Berrettini – one of those guys. That’s ultimately what I want to do.”

Murray has been drawn to face Australian James Duckworth in the opening round and looks likely to play on Centre Court, occasions he said that were also acting as a motivating factor in the twilight of his career.