Andy Murray can win Wimbledon for Great Britain and lose it for Scotland
CAN Andy Murray win Wimbledon for Great Britain (and lose it for Scotland)?
As with most modern Scottish victories, the event is staged in, erm, London. Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond says Murray has “given the whole country a lift with his performances. The whole of Scotland will be right behind Andy on Sunday, and I’ll be there in person to help cheer him on.”
Prime Minister David Cameron takes a different line:
“It is great news that we have our first home-grown men’s finalist at Wimbledon for over 70 years, especially in this exciting Olympics year when the eyes of the world are on the UK. I’ll be watching the final on Sunday and, like the rest of the country, will be getting right behind Andy Murray – I wish him the best of luck.”
Murray is the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin did it in 1938. He wants to be the first Britain to win it since Fred Perry (dressed in a rich cotton pique, with a classic two button placket, textured ribbing at the cuffs and collar and signature Laurel Wreath embroidery on the chest) took top spot in 1936.
The man standing between Murray and his spending the rest of life explaining why he doesn’t live in Scotland is Swiss ace Roger Federer. As the Times‘ Simon Barnes notes, Federer is the player “who, as easily as Murray defeated the fifth seed, defeated the first, the unstoppable Novak Djokovic.” Consider the unstoppable stopped.
And we too can join in. Ivan Lendl may have scored the job as Murray’s misery coach, but fans should know that shouts of “Come on Muzza”, “Come on Murray” and “Come on” are all welcome.
Posted: 7th, July 2012 | In: Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
