Judy's mission is a love match as she visits Shropshire

Where else would you find Judy Murray except involved in some way with tennis? Apart from Strictly Come Dancing, that is.

As a top player, mother to two top players and nowadays dedicated to looking after our top women and guiding others to become leading players, she is a treasure of the British game.

For instance, she has high hopes for the future of women's tennis with a new programme aimed at encouraging young girls to play the sport.

Which is why the Miss Hits initiative was introduced by Judy as a feeder programme into to the Lawn Tennis Association's Mini Tennis.

Andy Murray remains a "big fan favourite" among British supporters despite his call for Scottish independence, according to a leading fans' group.

Britain's biggest tennis star made a late intervention in the debate on whether Scotland should break from the UK by posting a message on Twitter backing the Yes campaign, just hours before the polls opened.

The 28-year-old Scot told his followers last September: ''Huge day for Scotland today! no campaign negativity last few days totally swayed my view on it. excited to see the outcome. lets do this!''

Independence was ultimately rejected by a margin of 55 per cent to 45 per cent but Murray was subjected to online abuse after airing his views on the social media site.

Mary Pope, chairwoman of the British Association of Tennis Supporters, said Murray did not need to worry about his level of support at Wimbledon next week.

"His support is a given," she said. "Everyone is really enthusiastic about Andy. Lots of people will be queuing overnight when his matches are on the next day.

"He's the big fan favourite."

Asked whether Murray's views on Scottish independence would affect his support, she replied: "No, that's a done deal. We don't need to worry about that.

"We're all British and we're very much following the British players.

"He's said he's British and he's committed to the Davis Cup team.

"There'll be Scottish flags and Union flags."

Following September's referendum result, Murray said he had no regrets about declaring his support for a Yes vote but had reservations about the way he did it. He told the BBC: "I don't regret giving an opinion. I think everyone should be allowed that. The way I did it, yeah, it wasn't something I would do again."

Murray, who lives in Surrey with his wife Kim, did not have a vote because he does not live in Scotland.

Rather than traditional techniques to teach the game, Miss Hits uses dance, balloons and skipping ropes to develop skills in a fun environment for girls between five and eight.

Great Britain's Federation Cup captain introduced the programme nearly a year ago with the aim of making sure the level of girls who go on to Mini Tennis – a form of the game played on a half-size court – will be superior and in terms of numbers, is bigger than previously.

The programme is divided into two six-week blocks and does not even need the teacher to be a qualified tennis coach. As well as developing tennis skills, Miss Hits aims to appeal to young girls by creating a social environment which also nurtures friendship as well as competition. By creating social groups, Judy hopes girls will be encouraged to make even more progress in tennis.

She said: "One of the most important things for girls as against men is that they tend to drop out because their friends don't play. I've realised that, going round the country."

What she has to say fits in with starter tennis in schools – to start off simply getting children to enjoy tennis.

Judy says: "It's about people who might just drop in and come and try it at their local park. The important thing about any sport and activities is that they enjoy it."

Former British number one Andrew Castle says: "It costs £8.50 for people to play for the first time near where I live; I find that incredible. So schemes like the one Judy Murray is promoting are great."

And really, promoting is the name of the tennis game. At all levels, there is a commitment to use schemes, projects, persuasions and all the talents the players have, in order to make the game as easy and affordable as possible to play.

Shropshire's own tennis gem Cathie Sabin of Much Wenlock, a former schoolteacher and first female president of the Lawn Tennis Association, is also dedicated to bringing the game alive and a real possibility for more people – starting with the youngsters.

Judy added: "Going round the country like I have been, doing these workshops, it has staggered me how few women coaches we have, while 75 per cent of the captains of girls' teams are men."

Nearly three years ago, Judy became captain of Great Britain in the Federation Cup, the premier international team competition in women's tennis, launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation. The men's equivalent of the Fed Cup is, the Davis Cup.

Of course, when it comes to being a spectator, poor Judy, former Scottish tennis champ, has come in for a bit of affectionate banter for watching one son rather than the other if Andy and his brother, doubles star Jamie, both play at the same time – and sometimes in different countries.

But our lady's shoulders are broad and the boys say they are just as proud of her as she is of them.

However, this week Judy tweeted a snap of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Andy, commenting: "The Special One with My Special One." To which Jamie simply replied: "Thank you Mum."

Last year, we got a very different Judy to admire – as a competitor in BBC One's popular Strictly Come Dancing when her partner was dishy professional dancer, Anton du Beke.

Despite cutting comments from carping critics, the pair lasted until week eight and with that wide smile and 'doing my best' approach Judy was actually very popular, brought a bit of fun to the programme and, for me, was totally unjustly marked low.

She now says with the widest smile: "I knew I'd be the one they would criticise but it was just such great fun and I really enjoyed it."

She wasn't phased either by the reaction of her sons who offered a few cheeky comments and begged her not to embarrass them. "They were great and really wanted me to enjoy it – which I did," she said.

Back on the tennis front, this year Judy hasn't been travelling to all tournaments across the world.

"I am really so busy and I'm finding that trying to get to so many different places is also very tiring," she said.