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Tennis Aberdeen member Murray Smith celebrates milestone 90th birthday with a game at Aberdeen Tennis Centre.

Having been a keen player for more than seven decades, Murray first picked up a racket and made a serve at only 15 years old, not long after the Second World War.

At the time, he frequented at outdoor grass courts – formerly the ‘Argyle’ courts – later joining the Rubislaw Tennis Club team for several years.

In his heyday, Murray played alongside Jimmy Wood – a renowned figure in the tennis community who represented Scotland and Great Britain, winning several national and international tournaments.

Murray has now been a member at Aberdeen Tennis Centre for almost 20 years and has developed good friendships with the staff. He plays every Monday and Thursday morning with a group of four or eight friends.

Sharing his advice for budding tennis players, Murray said: “There are so many benefits of playing tennis, so I’d encourage anyone to get involved in the sport.

“As well as being good for your health and keeping fit, tennis is great for socialising and making new friends. I really enjoy the camaraderie that comes along with the group sport!

“The most important piece of advice I could give – you should always remember to have fun and enjoy yourself!”

Matt Kerswell, operations manager at Aberdeen Tennis Centre, said: “It’s great to see the passion that Murray still has for playing tennis and the satisfaction it brings him.

“The wonderful thing about tennis is that anyone can play, regardless of age or ability. At the centre, we have social tennis sessions, or our coaches can offer a pathway of development through our Aberdeen Tennis Academy.”

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