2024-07-23 08:25:18
Before he became Sir Andrew Murray OBE, world number one, three-time Grand Slam champion, and one of the greatest American athletes of all time… at least to one woman, he was completely unavailable. Worth celebrating.
In 2006, the Football World Cup was held simultaneously with Wimbledon. The 19-year-old Murray, once a promising youth footballer himself, joked in an interview that he would support “whoever England plays against.”
It dropped like a lead balloon. he Got scolded in the comments Photos from the blog he writes on his website and even his Scottish Cross-emblazoned wristbands have drawn attention.
Murray has become a lightning rod, causing anger in a tense Anglo-Scottish atmosphere. Last month, the then First Minister of Scotland Said he would not support England.
But Murray’s joke elicited a far greater reaction.
Murray played only his second Wimbledon match since then, walking past a spectator on his way to the match. He overheard her telling a friend, using expletive-laden and anti-Scottish language, that she had just discovered him.
“I was like, what? I was 19. This was my home game. Why is this happening?” Murray recalled in a 2017 interview., External
“When I was a kid, I got something in my locker that said, ‘I hope you lose every tennis match for the rest of your life.'”
By the time 2012 rolled around, Murray was already breaking new ground.
In 2008, he reached the U.S. Open final, becoming the first British player to reach a Grand Slam final since New York’s Greg Rusedski 11 years earlier.
He went on to reach two more Grand Slam finals – the Australian Open in 2010 and 2011 – but Britain is still looking for its first men’s senior since Fred Perry in 1936. Grand Slam singles champion.
But some public ambivalence remains.
As the joke on Twitter goes, Murray is British when he wins and Scottish when he loses.
At times Murray seems to have gone too far – his outspokenness is endeared to a certain extent, and his on-court rage is amusing when he’s winning but ridiculed when he’s losing.
At this time, Murray was already a new member of the Big Four. Roger Federer is otherworldly and has been called a “god”, especially at Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal has courage, determination and a never-say-die attitude.
Novak Djokovic is another newcomer trying to break the duopoly, defying belief, bending his limbs in every direction and possessing a level of endurance and mental strength that few can match.
But Murray? Murray is the most human. A guy who sometimes looks like he really hates tennis. No one can accuse Murray of hiding his emotions. This rubbed some people the wrong way.
He’s been accused of being whiny, anti-English, and boring, but actually he’s doing what we all do – getting frustrated with work and trying to laugh along with it.
“I think for any young player who’s thrust into the spotlight, it’s very difficult to deal with and understand the media,” his mother, Judy, said. Speaking in BBC Sport’s recent documentary Andy Murray: The Will to Win.
“One thing about tennis is that players have to face the media after every match, win or lose. Of course, it’s much easier to face the media when you win.
“As an 18-year-old, he had some media training, but nothing really prepares you to suddenly be in front of a room of about 300 people.
“I think his response to everything is to be honest and say what’s on your mind. Over the next few years, you become more adept at it.”
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#People #Andy #Murray #weeks #changed
