Andy Murray was left counting his lucky stars after his stolen tennis shoes and - more importantly - wedding ring were returned to him after making a desperate appeal on social media.
The British tennis legend, and proud knight of the realm, had fans and even his fellow players laughing as he posted on Instagram about an embarrassing gaffe that put him in the dog house with his wife of six years, Kim Sears.
The two-time Wimbledon champion landed himself in hot water with his Mrs after he unwittingly lost his wedding ring, which was tied to his smelly tennis shoes.
Murray explained [watch the full video above] that he left said sneakers underneath his car outside his hotel room to dry off, rather than take them inside - his room didn’t have a balcony - and stink the place out.
When he emerged from his room the next morning, however, the shoes had gone. It meant he had to visit a nearby sports shop to buy a new pair, as they were the only ones he had with him.
Murray is currently in California building up for the Indian Wells Open, where he faces Adrian Mannarino on France in the first round on Friday - the early hours of Saturday on UK time.
The Scot explained he took three pairs of his bespoke Under Armour tennis shoes with him to the United States, but wore one pair out during training, while he left the other two to air out underneath his car, which were both stolen.
But his lack of footwear wasn’t his only problem, though, as he soon realised his wedding ring was also gone, having forgotten that he tied it to his laces while he was playing.
"Needless to say, I'm in the bad books at home,” Murray said in a video on his Instagram page, as he pleaded - failing to hide his embarrassed smirk - for his ring, and his shoes, to be returned.
“I want to try and find it so if anyone can share this or may have any clue where they may be, it would be very helpful so I can try and get it back and get to the bottom of it."
But Murray’s nightmare - one every married man has experienced at least once in their married lives - only lasted a day, much to his relief.
He posted the next day that they had been returned, thanking those who helped him get the word out as he hunted down his wedding ring and looked to save his marriage.
“I just wanted to send a quick message to say a huge thanks for all the messages and also to everyone for sharing the story about the shoes and the wedding ring.
“I had to make a few calls today and chat to the security at the hotel, a little update for everyone…
“Would you believe it [pausing as he takes a big, deep whiff of his trainers] they still absolutely stink, but the shoes are back, the wedding ring is back and I’m back in the good books.
“LET’S GO!”
Whether someone on his coaching team was just winding him up, or whether they were legitimately stolen and then returned, we’ll maybe never know.
All we can say now is that, at least he’s now got a home to go back to.
Murray’s case of the missing ring wasn’t the only hilarity spotted on the tennis star’s Instagram page this week, as he prepares for his latest pursuit of silverware.
Read More on talkSPORT
After landing in California for the tournament, Murray gave his followers a glimpse of his view outside his hotel room window, along with an Ron Burgundy Anchorman-style commentary about the origins of San Diego - ‘the greatest city in the history of mankind’.
We’re not sure about that translation, Andy… although, scholars maintain the real translation was lost hundreds of years ago...
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