Andy Murray is to become a father for the first time next year after it was confirmed his wife Kim Sears is pregnant.

The couple married in the tennis player’s home town of Dunblane in April. It is understood they told family and friends the news after Kim, 27, visited hospital for a 12-week scan, with the baby due in February.

His agent confirmed the pregnancy, saying they are a very “private couple” and that no further details would be revealed.

The former Wimbledon champion’s mother Judy recently told a magazine that she was “really looking forward to being a granny”.

Andy Murray and Kim Sears at their wedding
(Andrew Milligan/PA)

Andy, 28, enjoyed a strong run of form after marrying his long-term girlfriend in front of family and friends at Dunblane Cathedral on April 11, reaching the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon, and winning his first titles on clay.

Speaking to Sky Sports 3 earlier this year, he said: “It (marriage) has been nice and a lot of people have spoken about the honeymoon period.

“But we’ve been together a very long time and getting married was the next step.”

Murray fans were quick to congratulate the couple after news of Kim’s pregnancy was reported, tweeting him their best wishes.

The couple, who met as teenagers in 2005 through tennis circles, live in Surrey with their two Border terriers Maggie and Rusty.

Andy has been competing in Washington this week as part of his preparations for the US Open, which takes place at the end of the month in New York.