Murray breaks down in tears at Scottish ceremony

Stirling Council Provost Mike Robbins, right, comforts British tennis player Andy Murray after he made an emotional speech following his acceptance of the Freedom of Stirling presented to him during a special council meeting at his old school Dunblane High, in Dunblane, Scotland, Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Murray said he feels honored to receive the freedom of Stirling and an honorary degree from the university where he trained as a boy. AP

DUNBLANE, Scotland — His victory speech at Wimbledon was easy compared to this.

Andy Murray broke into tears Wednesday as he accepted a civic honor in his Scottish hometown of Dunblane.

Murray, who was granted “the freedom of Stirling” from the local council, stopped to compose himself and wipe his eyes several times during the ceremony at Dunblane High School.

“I think everyone knows I’m extremely proud of where I come from,” he said, his voice cracking. “Moving away was one of the sacrifices I had to make for my job and every time I come back it’s quite emotional.”

Murray’s parents, grandparents and girlfriend Kim Sears were among those in attendance.

“I apologize for this behavior,” he said after again being overcome with emotion.

Murray also received an honorary degree from the University of Stirling, whose courts he practiced on as a youngster.

“Tennis players don’t really come from Scotland, so it’s a strange story, but shows that anything can happen if you believe and you dream and work hard, then you can achieve whatever you want to,” he said.

Dunblane, a cathedral town, was the site of a mass shooting in 1996. Murray was 8 when a gunman opened fire at his elementary school, killing 16 children and a teacher. He didn’t witness the actual carnage, but hid under a desk in the headmaster’s study.

Murray, gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2012 U.S. Open champion, became the first British man since 1936 to win Wimbledon last year when he beat Novak Djokovic in the final.