SCOT READY FOR WORLD NO 1 AS HE BIDS FOR WIMBLEDON CROWN TENNIS, PAGES 2-6 Lions triumph Down Under Murray’s moment
ANDY Murray has a dream. Today he can make it a reality. The world No 2 from Dunblane has become accustomed to success, but he admitted yesterday that being crowned Wimbledon champion on Centre Court today would top it all.
The 26-year-old relished winning the US Open and Olympic gold last year and has banked £18 million in prize money – plus much more in endorsements – during the course of his career so far. But the cachet of being named the first home winner of the men’s singles at SW19 for 77 years would be priceless.
“For any tennis player, that is the goal that you have, you want to try to win Wimbledon,” said the Scot, who faces the toughest of opponents in the final, world No 1 Novak Djokovic.
“Winning my first slam after failing a lot of times at the final hurdle, I don’t think anything will top that sort of relief or release that I had after that match.
“But winning Wimbledon is pretty much the pinnacle of the sport. The closer you get to it the more you are obviously going to think about it but the most important thing is that you aren’t looking too far ahead.”
The Scot called last night for vociferous support from the home crowd, although many more will be rooting for him than just the lucky few within Centre Court. With several big screens erected around the country – including one in his home town – tens of millions will watch the match on TV. Murray said he wished Centre Court could accommodate all of them.
“The support has been unbelievable towards the end of the matches and that is what you need if you want to try to win these events,” he said. “There are so many other people out there too. Loads of them queue just to watch from the hill. It is just a shame that the stadium isn’t bigger.”
Murray was allowing himself a long lie this morning ahead of an 11.30am practice and a 2pm start.
Djokovic, meanwhile, had some work to do after referees ordered him to file down dimples on the sides of his shoes as they breached rules on permitted footwear.