Andy Murray 'too young' for knighthood despite stellar 2016

Andy Murray insists he is "too young" to receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours list despite enjoying a fine 2016 season. The 29-year-old, who is already an OBE, won Wimbledon and Olympic singles gold each for a second time before becoming the first Briton to claim the year-end number one after winning the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The Scot has been widely tipped to be included as part of the Queen's honours list since overcoming Novak Djokovic in the final match of the year at The O2 Arena. Recent examples of sportspeople being recognised include cyclists Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy and Dame Sarah Storey.

However, the three-time grand slam champion says there are "a lot of things that can go wrong" in his life which could undermine the honour which may come five months before his 30<sup>th birthday. "Obviously it is the highest honour you can get in this country," said Murray, whose wife Kim also gave birth to their first child in February.

"I don't know. I feel too young for something like that. I don't think about that stuff much, really. When I win any award or am presented with anything it is nice because it is recognition for what you have given your life to, up to now anyway.

"I am still young and there are still a lot of things that can go wrong, I could still mess up and make mistakes. Do stuff wrong. I am just trying to keep doing what I am doing, working hard, and achieving stuff."

Even if Murray is overlooked, he is widely expected to become the first person to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for a third time. Murray became just the fourth person to win the prize, voted for by the general public in 2015 after leading Great Britain to their first Davis Cup triumph in 79 years, twice and is the bookmakers' favourite to retain the prize.

But much like in previous years Murray will be absent from the ceremony, due to take place at Birmingham's Genting Arena on Sunday, 18 December as it coincides with his annual pre-season training camp in Miami which he uses as a tune up for the new campaign. He also has the small matter of his father's wedding next month prior to travelling to Florida.

"I don't think I am going to be able to go this year," he said of the BBC award ceremony. "I've got my father's stag do next weekend, then he is getting married the following weekend. So I will go up to Scotland on Saturday, come back down to London for four or five days then come back up to Scotland. Then I go to Miami the day after my dad's wedding."