Earlier than he was Sir Andrew Murray OBE, world primary, three-time Grand Slam champion, one of many nation’s greatest-ever athletes… he was, to 1 lady at the very least, one thing altogether much less celebratory.
In 2006, the soccer World Cup was happening concurrently Wimbledon. A 19-year-old Murray, himself as soon as a promising youth footballer, joked in an interview that he would help “whoever England have been taking part in in opposition to”.
It went down like a lead balloon. He was abused within the feedback of a weblog he wrote on his web site and even his wristbands, embellished with the Scottish saltire, attracted scrutiny.
Murray had turn into a lightning rod, attracting ire in an edgy Anglo-Scottish environment. The earlier month, the then Scottish First Minister had been criticised for saying he wouldn’t be supporting England.
However the response to Murray’s joke was on a far bigger scale.
Within the aftermath, Murray, taking part in solely his second Wimbledon, walked previous a spectator on the best way to his match. He overheard her telling a good friend, in expletive-laden and anti-Scottish language, that she had simply noticed him.
“I used to be like, What? I used to be 19. That is my residence event. Why is that this taking place?” Murray remembered in a 2017 interview., exterior
“I used to be nonetheless a child and I used to be getting issues despatched to my locker saying issues like: ‘I hope you lose each tennis match for the remainder of your life.'”
By the point 2012 rolled round, Murray had already damaged new floor.
He had reached the US Open remaining in 2008, changing into the primary British man to make a significant remaining since Greg Rusedski in New York 11 years earlier.
Two additional Slam remaining appearances adopted – the Australian Open in 2010 and 2011 – however Britain was nonetheless trying to find a primary male main singles champion since Fred Perry in 1936.
However the ambivalence of a few of the common public remained.
Because the Twitter joke went, Murray was British when he gained and Scottish when he misplaced.
It typically appeared there was one thing inordinate about Murray – his outspokenness was beloved to a sure level, his on-court anger amusing when he was successful however derided when he was shedding.
At this level, Murray was a nascent member of the Massive 4. Roger Federer was transcendent, described as a ‘god’, particularly at Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal had the grit, the willpower, the never-say-die perspective.
Novak Djokovic, one other relative newcomer attempting to upset their duopoly, defied perception, limbs bending each which approach, geared up with an endurance stage and psychological power few can match.
However Murray? Murray was probably the most human. A person who typically regarded as if he actively hated the game of tennis. No-one might ever accuse Murray of hiding his feelings. And that rubbed up some the improper approach.
He was accused of being whingey, of being anti-English, of being boring, when actually he was doing what all of us do – getting annoyed concerning the job and making an attempt to have fun together with it.
“I feel it is very tough for any younger participant who’s thrust into the highlight to become familiar or really feel comfy with dealing with and understanding the media,” mentioned his mum Judy, talking on Andy Murray: Will to Win, a latest BBC Sport documentary.
“One of many issues in tennis is that gamers must face the media after each match whether or not they win or lose. After all, it is rather a lot simpler to face the media while you’re successful.
“As an 18-year-old he’d had somewhat little bit of media coaching however nothing actually prepares you for instantly being in entrance of a room of about 300 individuals.
“I feel his response to something is to be truthful and say what you are considering. In years to return, you’ll turn into rather more practised.”
