Wimbledon 2010: Andy Murray - the only hope for a win in the Queen’s realm
For the first time in thirty three years Queen Elizabeth would be paying a visit to the lawns of the All England Club on Thursday at Wimbledon 2010. All players are eagerly trying to practice their courtesy before their audience with the Queen. The Queen visited Wimbledon in 1977 when the centenary of the championship took place. That was the last time that Queen Elizabeth ventured onto a lawn of tennis. 1977 also marked Queen’s silver jubilee year in 1977. It was a joyous occasion for the British public as Virginia Wada became the first British player to lift the women’s championship. It was a momentous occasion for sports in Britain as the Queen presented the Venus Rosewater Dish to Virginia Wada. With the Queen coming to Wimbledon this year, will luck shine on the British players once again? Will Andy Murray be the next Briton after Fred Perry’s 1936 win to lift the silver gilt cup?
A total of eight British players, men and women were part of the main draw at Wimbledon this year. However, at the end of day two, only a solitary English player remains. The other seven crashed out of Wimbledon in their first outing. At the end of day two, Melanie South, Elena Balthaca, Katie O’Brian, Anne Keothavong, Jamie Baker and Heather Watson had all bowed out of the tournament being played on their home ground. The sole survivor was Andy Murray. British hopes are now resting on his shoulders.
Throughout the last decade, Briton’s hopes rested on Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman, both players eventually turned out to be big disappointments. Tiger Tim always played a rollercoaster marathon that had Britons on the edge of their seat. He became the first British player after Roger Taylor to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Britons thought they had a chance of winning Wimbledon in 2001 when he beat Pete Sampras and the emerging grass court king Roger Federer. His challenger in the semi-final was Goran Ivanisevic, who had a wild card entry that year. Henman Hill was crowded on that day with loud cheers being heard inside and outside the court. Henman dominated the proceedings till there was divine intervention. He was two sets to one up before rain lashed down and halted play. It seems as if luck was on Goran’s side, as he came back stronger than ever upon their return. In the next five sets, Britain’s representation was thrown out of Wimbledon. Ivanisevic proceeded to win the match and the tournament. It was the end of Henman’s Wimbledon dream. His poor form and injuries forced Henman to retire in 2007, taking with him the desires of the British people.
Expectations were once again raised with the rise of a boy from Scotland called Andy Murray. Just before Tim retired, Murray had already made his foray into the world top ten rankings. Murray became the first man since Fred Perry to take over the number two spot in the world as well. But what matters to the British public is the performance of the British players in their home court of Wimbledon.
Idolising Andre Agassi, Murray hopes to recreate the magic that Agassi did in Wimbledon in 1992. Murray’s best performance in Wimbledon came last year when he reached the semi-final. Unfortunately, he suffered the same fate as Tim Henman and the Britons were delivered another blow. Murray was seeded number two in Wimbledon last year due to Rafael Nadal pulling out of the tournament. He fought his way to the semi-final berth. Waiting for him on the other end was American Andy Roddick. Three hours and seven minutes later, the misery for the British continued. Roddick delivered a strong performance and knocked Murray out of the championship in front of his home crown with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7) and7-6 (7-5).
Murray has come into this year’s championship wanting to make his hometown proud. He eased through his first round match, signalling that he was serious in making history this time around. Only time will tell whether the Queen’s appearance would prove to be lucky for the sole surviving Briton in Wimbledon 2010.
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