Tennis legend Andy Murray has shared his heartache following the death of his beloved border terrier, Rusty. The sportsman confessed: “The house feels empty without you in it.”

Murray, who hung up his tennis racket this summer, had already mourned the loss of his first border terrier, Maggie, in 2022 after 14 years.

Now he finds himself grieving once more, paying tribute to his “loyal and protective companion”. In a heartfelt Instagram post, he wrote: “You were the most loyal and protective companion our family could have wished for,” adding, “You were so patient and gentle with the kids and we all learned so much from you. The house feels empty without you in it.”

He continued: “The noise you made when you wanted a plate to lick or a biscuit to chew on or when you wanted anything for that matter was infuriating at times! But today we would do anything to hear it again, Love you ruzz rest easy poppet x” Murray and his wife Kim had been Rusty’s owners since 2011.

Following the recent loss of Maggie, they had urged pet owners to “give your pets a big cuddle tonight because it stings when you can’t anymore”. Speaking about Maggie’s passing in 2022, he said: “Today our family said goodbye to this amazing little dog. She was a huge part of our family and our first pet so this really hurts.”

Murray’s bond with Rusty won over many hearts when the dog featured on a show with comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, offering viewers a glimpse into the tennis star’s everyday life.

The comic pair couldn’t contain their laughter when tennis legend Andy Murray showcased his “dog voice” while calling his four-legged friend Rusty during a leisurely stroll in the park. The three-time Grand Slam winner, who has recently retired his racquet, is embracing a new chapter in his life with an unexpected twist — coaching his long-time adversary Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic broke the news on social media, stating: “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of being rivals, of pushing each other beyond our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk-takers, history-makers.”

He continued, “I thought our story may be over, turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome on board, coach Andy Murray.”