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Wimbledon Win Alters the Conversation for Murray A Triumph for Scotland, Too, and Perhaps a ‘Sir’ for Murray
(about 4 hours later)
WIMBLEDON, England — Andy Murray still looked the same Monday morning after a Wimbledon title and 90 minutes of sleep. He still sounded the same, too, with his droll drone of a voice, which, come to think of it, always sounds a bit groggy.WIMBLEDON, England — Andy Murray still looked the same Monday morning after a Wimbledon title and 90 minutes of sleep. He still sounded the same, too, with his droll drone of a voice, which, come to think of it, always sounds a bit groggy.
But the questions were different, delightfully different, if you were Murray.But the questions were different, delightfully different, if you were Murray.
What about a knighthood? Will it be hard to stay hungry after achieving your three obvious goals? Can you talk about what this Wimbledon victory means to the British people?What about a knighthood? Will it be hard to stay hungry after achieving your three obvious goals? Can you talk about what this Wimbledon victory means to the British people?
That last question must have sounded particularly novel, considering that Murray, like every British men’s tennis player from Buster Mottram to Tim Henman, has spent his career trying to live up to Fred Perry, who won the last of his three Wimbledon singles titles in 1936. That last question must have sounded particularly novel, considering that Murray, like every male British tennis player from Buster Mottram to Tim Henman, had spent his career trying to live up to Fred Perry, who won the last of his three Wimbledon singles titles in 1936.
“To finally have done it, it will be nice as a nation that we don’t have to look at Wimbledon as a negative,” Murray said. “It can be viewed as a positive. I just hope it’s not another 70-odd years again.”“To finally have done it, it will be nice as a nation that we don’t have to look at Wimbledon as a negative,” Murray said. “It can be viewed as a positive. I just hope it’s not another 70-odd years again.”
Murray said so after posing with the men’s trophy in front of Perry’s statue in the Monday sunshine.Murray said so after posing with the men’s trophy in front of Perry’s statue in the Monday sunshine.
It is worth underscoring that Virginia Wade did win the women’s singles title here in 1977. Wade was at Wimbledon as a BBC commentator, and it was poignant to watch her enter the gates of the All England Club one day last week. She walked through on her own in her flat-soled shoes and sunglasses, her hair gone gray.It is worth underscoring that Virginia Wade did win the women’s singles title here in 1977. Wade was at Wimbledon as a BBC commentator, and it was poignant to watch her enter the gates of the All England Club one day last week. She walked through on her own in her flat-soled shoes and sunglasses, her hair gone gray.
No one accosted her. No one shouted her name, aimed their smart phone in her direction or extended so much as a program to autograph as she made her way toward Centre Court. No one accosted her. No one shouted her name, aimed a smartphone in her direction or extended so much as a program to autograph as she made her way toward Centre Court.
It may take another 36 years for Murray to get the same sort of treatment and peace at Wimbledon.It may take another 36 years for Murray to get the same sort of treatment and peace at Wimbledon.
The attempt to match Perry had grown, through the decades, into a quest and also a reliable hook on which to hang the British narrative every July.The attempt to match Perry had grown, through the decades, into a quest and also a reliable hook on which to hang the British narrative every July.
Murray’s straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final will now stir up all sorts of other possibilities. Murray’s straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final will stir up all sorts of other possibilities.
In the rankings released Monday, Djokovic is still No. 1; Murray is still No. 2, David Ferrer is No. 3 and Rafael Nadal No. 4. Roger Federer, at No. 5 after losing at Wimbledon in the second round, is outside the top four for the first time since June 2003. In the rankings released Monday, Djokovic is still No. 1; Murray is still No. 2, followed by David Ferrer, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who lost in the second round and fell outside the top four for the first time since June 2003.
Murray, holder of the United States Open and Wimbledon titles, now has a platform from which to try to become the first British player to reach No. 1 since the tour rankings began in 1973.Murray, holder of the United States Open and Wimbledon titles, now has a platform from which to try to become the first British player to reach No. 1 since the tour rankings began in 1973.
“It’s a tough one for me because right now I won two Slams, was in the final of a third one and hold Olympic gold, and I’m nowhere near being No. 1,” Murray said. “I don’t know exactly why that is. I may need to be more consistent in the other events and obviously missing the French Open didn’t help that. But I’d rather not get to No. 1 and win more Grand Slams than win no more Grand Slams and get to No. 1.” “It’s a tough one for me because right now I won two Slams, was in the final of a third one and hold Olympic gold, and I’m nowhere near being No. 1,” Murray said. “I don’t know exactly why that is. I may need to be more consistent in the other events, and obviously missing the French Open didn’t help that. But I’d rather not get to No. 1 and win more Grand Slams than win no more Grand Slams and get to No. 1.”
That is a common sentiment in this Slam-centric era, where so much focus and energy are on the four major events. But Murray clearly made the right choice to skip the French Open and address his ailing back in time to make a full-bore run at Wimbledon. That is a common sentiment in this Slam-centric era, in which so much focus and energy are on the four major events. But Murray clearly made the right choice to skip the French Open and address his ailing back in time to make a full-bore run at Wimbledon.
Asked before the final what might change if Murray did finally win, Peter McNamara, the former Australian star turned coach, smiled and said, “You will call him Sir.”Asked before the final what might change if Murray did finally win, Peter McNamara, the former Australian star turned coach, smiled and said, “You will call him Sir.”
A knighthood does seem likely considering that Bradley Wiggins received one last year after winning Olympic gold and the Tour de France. A knighthood does seem likely, given that Bradley Wiggins received one last year after winning an Olympic gold and the Tour de France.
“I think it’s a nice thing to have or be offered,” Murray said. “I think just because everyone is waiting for such a long time for this, that’s probably what will be suggested. But I don’t know if it merits that.”“I think it’s a nice thing to have or be offered,” Murray said. “I think just because everyone is waiting for such a long time for this, that’s probably what will be suggested. But I don’t know if it merits that.”
David Cameron, the British prime minister, who was in the Royal Box Sunday at Wimbledon, told reporters that he certainly thinks it does. And the BBC reported Monday that Queen Elizabeth II had sent Murray a “private message.” David Cameron, the British prime minister, who was in the Royal Box on Sunday at Wimbledon, told reporters that he certainly thinks it does. And the BBC reported Monday that Queen Elizabeth II had sent Murray a “private message.”
More news on the knighthood is surely to come, but Murray’s achievement has a twist in that he is Scottish, not English.More news on the knighthood is surely to come, but Murray’s achievement has a twist in that he is Scottish, not English.
“It’s a great thing; it’s a great thing for Scotland, too, because Scotland feels like they’ve taken something away from the English,” said Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion from Australia who has long lived in Britain. “They feel like they’ve owned something from the English now that the English couldn’t get.”“It’s a great thing; it’s a great thing for Scotland, too, because Scotland feels like they’ve taken something away from the English,” said Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion from Australia who has long lived in Britain. “They feel like they’ve owned something from the English now that the English couldn’t get.”
One of the Royal Box sideshows Sunday was Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, waving the saltire, the white-and-blue Scottish flag, in the row directly behind Cameron after the victory.One of the Royal Box sideshows Sunday was Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, waving the saltire, the white-and-blue Scottish flag, in the row directly behind Cameron after the victory.
No Scotsman had won the singles at Wimbledon since Harold Mahony in 1896. Salmond was later asked on BBC radio whether Murray’s achievement had been a triumph for Britain. No Scotsman had won the singles at Wimbledon since Harold Mahony in 1896. Salmond was later asked on BBC Radio whether Murray’s achievement had been a triumph for Britain.
“Absolutely, and for tennis fans everywhere,” Salmond said. “Let everyone enjoy the triumph. But you will allow us just the little sneaky thing of the first Scot since 1896. Let us wave our saltires.”“Absolutely, and for tennis fans everywhere,” Salmond said. “Let everyone enjoy the triumph. But you will allow us just the little sneaky thing of the first Scot since 1896. Let us wave our saltires.”
The Scottish government, headed by Salmond, has announced that Scotland will hold a referendum on independence from Britain in September 2014.The Scottish government, headed by Salmond, has announced that Scotland will hold a referendum on independence from Britain in September 2014.
Murray, who lives in the London area but was born and raised in the Scottish town Dunblane, has not said publicly which way he will vote on the sensitive issue, and his Wimbledon triumph will only compound interest in his views. Murray, who lives in the London area but was born and raised in the Scottish town of Dunblane, has not said publicly which way he would vote on the sensitive issue, and his Wimbledon triumph will only compound interest in his views.
But this was, make no mistake, a national moment. Murray’s semifinal victory over Jerzy Janowicz drew a peak television audience of 13.24 million viewers, the biggest of the year in the United Kingdom. The final then topped that with a peak audience of 17.3 million. According to the BBC, that is the highest audience for a Wimbledon final since at least 1990. But this was, make no mistake, a national moment. Murray’s semifinal victory over Jerzy Janowicz drew a peak television audience of 13.24 million viewers, the biggest of the year in the United Kingdom. The final then topped that with a peak audience of 17.3 million. According to BBC, that was the biggest audience for a Wimbledon final since at least 1990.
Only one name will go on the trophy, but tennis at the highest level has now become a team event. Murray, once in mediocre shape and prone to frequent fits of anger, has transformed himself into a hyperfit, much more focused force with the help of an extensive support group.Only one name will go on the trophy, but tennis at the highest level has now become a team event. Murray, once in mediocre shape and prone to frequent fits of anger, has transformed himself into a hyperfit, much more focused force with the help of an extensive support group.
To watch him and Djokovic on the Wimbledon practice courts before the final was to watch squads at work: physiotherapists and physical trainers; hitting partners and coaches all playing a role (the courts looked crowded at times).To watch him and Djokovic on the Wimbledon practice courts before the final was to watch squads at work: physiotherapists and physical trainers; hitting partners and coaches all playing a role (the courts looked crowded at times).
But Murray’s rise to champion clearly coincides with his decision to hire the former No. 1 Ivan Lendl as his coach just before the 2012 season. Lendl, a Czech who later took United States citizenship, felt he could relate to Murray when he agreed to join his team. Lendl won eight Grand Slam singles titles after losing his first four Grand Slam finals. But Lendl never won Wimbledon despite changing his game and sacrificing other tournaments to make it possible.But Murray’s rise to champion clearly coincides with his decision to hire the former No. 1 Ivan Lendl as his coach just before the 2012 season. Lendl, a Czech who later took United States citizenship, felt he could relate to Murray when he agreed to join his team. Lendl won eight Grand Slam singles titles after losing his first four Grand Slam finals. But Lendl never won Wimbledon despite changing his game and sacrificing other tournaments to make it possible.
“He’s been very patient with me; I’m just happy I managed to do it for him,” Murray said.“He’s been very patient with me; I’m just happy I managed to do it for him,” Murray said.
Lendl deflected questions about his personal satisfaction. “I am very happy for Andy,” Lendl said in an e-mail message late Sunday night. “This is really all about him and helping him achieve his goals and dreams. So this is a great day for him, and I am glad I could be a part of it.”Lendl deflected questions about his personal satisfaction. “I am very happy for Andy,” Lendl said in an e-mail message late Sunday night. “This is really all about him and helping him achieve his goals and dreams. So this is a great day for him, and I am glad I could be a part of it.”
Asked if he would call Murray “Sir” if the knighthood materalized, Lendl said: “That would be a great thing for Andy. Not sure I can really discuss what we call each other though!”Asked if he would call Murray “Sir” if the knighthood materalized, Lendl said: “That would be a great thing for Andy. Not sure I can really discuss what we call each other though!”
Onward Team Murray goes then, toward a defense of the United States Open title, beginning next month, and then, eventually, to defending Wimbledon next year with the British drought well and truly over. Onward Team Murray goes then, toward a defense of the United States Open title, beginning next month, and then, eventually, to defending at Wimbledon next year with the British drought well and truly over.
“I hope I don’t lose hunger,” Murray said. “I think I should be able to use this as motivation. I know what it’s like losing in a Wimbledon final, and I know what it’s like winning one, and it’s a lot better winning. So the hard work is worth it, and I just need to make sure I don’t get sidetracked by anything.”“I hope I don’t lose hunger,” Murray said. “I think I should be able to use this as motivation. I know what it’s like losing in a Wimbledon final, and I know what it’s like winning one, and it’s a lot better winning. So the hard work is worth it, and I just need to make sure I don’t get sidetracked by anything.”