I'll be supporting anyone but England.
Let me return to the topic of Andy Murray and this whole anti-English argument for what I truly hope is the last time - although I doubt it.Some of the nonsensical criticism Britain's No 1 has received is laced with such misplaced venom and outrage that it makes me despair.So, for the hard of thinking, let me state here that: I did the interview with Andy Murray and Tim Henman a couple of years back where Murray talked about 'supporting whoever England were playing against'.It was a clearly a sarcastic remark. He was responding to teasing from your columnist about Scotland's absence from the 2006 World Cup and derisive laughter from the mischievous Henman.It was reported in that context in this newspaper at the time and the exchange was run as a transcript.A couple of days later a red-top got excited about the comments, lifted a couple of them into a 'story' that took on a life of its own and from there the truth was lost.It is astonishing how this has run and run.
I can cry like Roger, just a shame I can't play like him.
Sometimes when you're young, you make some bad decisions - that wasn't one of my better ones. I wish I hadn't done it. As you get older, you learn that money is not the most important thing.
I think we both played like women in the first set.
I'm not allowed to make a joke. It is a bit unfair how I'm treated. I thought it was a joke. I got calls and messages. I would rather not to have to worry about things like that. It is disappointing.
A wallaby pooed on me, so that wasn't very nice.
Better not say anything about that because if I do, I know I'm gonna get slighted. I'm really disappointed there's not more English people in it (laughter).
We Scots have a fierce pride in the things we do that others can never appreciate. I am the British No. 1, but I would prefer to be the British No. 1 from Scotland every time.
You f**king c**t!
As I was walking off the court, the models were waiting to go on for Ferrero's match. It's a little disappointing. Maybe I'm concentrating better in my matches than I would have later on. Tomorrow I think I'm playing on the outside court, so I'm not going to have them again. I think if I win my next one, there's a good chance that I'll be on the court with them.
I listen to him most of the time, some of the time I switch off.
The stuff that I was doing in the matches is similar to what I'd be doing if I was training this week.
There's Murray, Novak Djokovic, Richard Gasquet and Marcos Baghdatis. One of these guys is going to be up there with Federer and Nadal.I see a little bit of myself in Murray - he's better when he lets his emotions out.The key is obviously working it to your advantage so you become better.He seems to have gotten some things a little bottled up - he's reading his press and thinking, ' I don't like the way people are talking about me'. It's not like myself and Jimmy Connors, where we're cursing to the umpires or whatever, but you can use it and get people behind you.Murray would be a good guy to work with. He's the kind of guy you want to teach - there are not a lot who have that ability.
It will be interesting to follow Murray after he beat Federer this year. Murray has done brilliantly. He has the motivation so I think he can get to the top and become world number one.It's very important Britain has Murray. I think of lot of young players will take inspiration from what he has achieved. Britain will produce many more Andy Murrays,
He can be number one, but I don't know when. He can easily be top 10 next year. He is already very close to the top 10 and must continue what he's doing. He's a great player and will get better. Murray has got the talent, but he's young and needs someone to tell him things. You have to have more than one pair of eyes. The better he gets the more pressure there will be. He is already a great player and he will become even better.
Murray would be a good guy to work with. He's the kind of guy you want to teach - there are not a lot who have that ability.
I can guarantee you that this time next year people will be asking 'whatever happened to that Murray kid?' He's going out the top 100 and down down down into oblivion.
You look at certain guys and they just know how to play tennis. Andy Murray is one of those guys.
Murray is naturally feisty and I am loath to suggest he should cool it, but he may have to tone it down a bit for his own good.Speaking for myself, arguing with umpires and line judges seemed to help my game, but I'm not sure it does Murray's.
There's Murray, Novak Djokovic, Richard Gasquet and Marcos Baghdatis. One of these guys is going to be up there with Federer and Nadal.
He has the confidence - he's pretty c**ky, and that's a good thing - he has the game and the shots.
Boris Becker came out of nowhere and when you take Andy's size, his game and his charisma he can definitely go places.
It was an absolutely extraordinary match. Andrew Murray is as gifted as anyone that has ever played the game. But what was evident is that he is not fit enough to stand up to the ritual. The boy has played fanatastic tennis. I don't think I've seen anything like it. He's won a couple of three straight-sets games, then he's gone two sets up against Nalbandian who was a Wimbledon finalist. It's inspiring. I've witnessed Wimbledon over the years, but I've never seen anything like the response he got here. Fundamentally, you need somebody with you who will give him help with nutrition, health and stamina. Somebody has to get their **** off the ground and help Murray, appoint Mark Petchey (the player's coach) with whatever Petchey recommends (Petchey was Murray's coach on a short-term basis). He beat Radek Stepanek, who had three coaches and was seeded, and Murray, who had one, beat him. You tell me we have a problem, I can solve it in two minutes.
He could be a bigger star than Wayne Rooney.
He is an exciting, fresh talent. He seems to be the best young player Britain has. It is tempting to believe the hype but this is just the beginning for him - all the signs are good. He looks as if he has begun to own Court One already.
Now he belongs with the big boys.
There's going to be lots of opinions - and hopefully a lot of positive ones - because he has got a fantastic future. So he needs to just concentrate on his job. You have to say first and foremost that Andy has the ability and a good understanding of the game. He looks the part and is a player already. He's got a good head screwed on tightly to his shoulders, and, looking at his temperament, he's determined to succeed.
He has got the most wonderful all-round game. He's not one-dimensional - he has got beautiful ground strokes. He can really open up with a big forehand, he can come up with passing shots on both sides, and then he'll throw in a little drop shot or use the angles. He can use a mixture of pace and it is the variety of his game that has got everyone so excited.
It's absolutely vital that, one, we get the right coach, two, we get the right training environment, and three, we get the right physical team around him. So it will be a fitness trainer to travel with him to the tournaments and at his training base, and also probably the services of a physio on a part-time basis. Somebody who knows his body well enough that can work with the fitness trainer to get him into absolute peak condition. We can see that he can do the tennis stuff, but physically we have to make sure that he can do it day-in and day out.
Andy's game is there. He's got all the shots. He has power, he has finesse, he has a very good first serve. His whole game as an 18-year-old is very mature. So what will it take to improve? Maybe a little bit more work on the court to improve his conditioning and strength. But once he incorporates that into his game then he will be spectacular.
He's not afraid of anything. Even when he gave away the third set and looked tired, he was his own boss and just gave up on the set on purpose. He didn't care what the crowd thought. He knew what his plan was. For a British player he has a great mind and a great attitude.
Technically, he has fantastic hand skill, good timing and racket-head speed. His technique is solid from the ground, and one of his biggest attributes is that he understands very clearly how to hurt somebody and where the gaps are. He has the ability to open up the court and put the ball where the other guy doesn't like it. He reads the game well and can use all his skills on clay because it's like a game of chess out there.
Andy will definitely be in the top 10 this year and in the future he is capable of being the No.1 player in the world. I like his attitude because he wants to be the best.Maybe all he has to improve is his physical and mental side - but he doesn't really have any weaknesses.It will be great to see what he does at Wimbledon, and he has an unbelievable chance to win it in the next couple of years
He is already very close to the top 10 and must continue what he's doing. He's a great player and will get better. Murray has got the talent, but he's young and needs someone to tell him things. You have to have more than one pair of eyes. The better he gets the more pressure there will be. He is already a great player and he will become even better.
