Well as usually happens with the Brits at Wimbledon, those of us who choose to comment usually speak too soon.
Barely a week ago I castigated Andy Murray for his lack of understanding of what the British tennis fan expects from the current home grown hopeful.
To his credit Andy has taken the advice to heart.
Yesterday evening he played Richard Gasquet of France in a third round match.
Starting off merely mediocre he managed to serve a double fault to avoid the tie break in the first set, by losing it 5 - 7. He then seemed to be rather unnerved and lost the next three games in succession. Finally getting something of a grip he did manage to hold his serve in the remaining games but went 2 sets to love down.
And now he had the crowd eating out of his racquet.
The backbone began to stiffen and the shoulders to straighten, but it was still a struggle, with Gasquet serving for the match. But Murray held firm, levelled the set and went on to win the tie break.
The BBC extended coverage, the nation sat on the edge of their seats, breath was held, finger nails were bitten, eyes were covered. Fists were clenched in imitation of our hero's gesture of triumph, breath was released in a euphoric "Yesss!" as the points and the games began to mount up. Suddenly it was all square and it was Gasquet that was looking like the man with the jitters.
BBC cancelled its showing of a new drama,Criminal Justice, to stay and watch as the twilight closed in on SW19 and still they battled on, Murray unleashing some of the best tennis anyone could wish for, until finally he had match point, celebrating his win with an almighty roar.
Andy, you took us to the brink, literally. Tim could not have done it better, I salute you, the rightful son and heir to the title 'Britain's Wimbledon Hope'.
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- 2008-07-01 @ 19:54:24
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- 2008-07-03 @ 04:51:03
Yes indeed, "Super geek" the comeback kid did the nation proud.
I was amused by the media observation that " if he wins he's British and if he loses he's a Scot ".
And outside, "Henman Hill" it stays until we get a homegrown champion on grass, as it were.
ianrthorpe


Actually the beeb did not cancel but ran late - and Criminal Justice was very good.
This little arse nicks his Dad's black cab cos his own car will not start (wouldn't want you thinking he's a thief,) but forgets to switch for hire light off. Stoner girl jumps in at traffic lights, says take me to the seaside, they talk, drop Es, go to her house (continuity error there - she had specified "the nearest seaside" not "my home town") get drunk, play with knives and she gets cut, they shag and fall asleep. Boy wakes up, goes dowstairs for a glass of water cos his liberal parents have told him what to do when feeling shitty as amphetamines wear off, goes back upstairs to find girl dead with stab wound in chest.
Thinks what did I see in her, she's flat chested, gets in black cab, does a runner.
Crashes, gets arrested for drunk driving, as he is being processed the murder call comes in.
Deep shit. he's in the criminal justice system. His wonderfully sleazy solicitor tells him, keep stumm, this is not about truth.
That's all you need to know really.