Andy Murray

I’ve written a few times about Andy Murray recently and I was going to give the man a rest from my musings but, such was the feeling of elation that I felt when I heard he had reached the final in the US Open, that I just can’t help but celebrate this event in print. I’m sure all tennis fans will join me in this salute to a sportsman who has transcended the cynical dismissal, by sports writers who should know better, of any potential he might have to achieve more than the long suffering Tim Henman.

Murray Overcomes His Demons

His rapid rise to number four in the world illustrates the extent of the man’s determination and genius to overcome his demons, fine tune his extraordinary focus, strategically and tactically learn his opponent’s game and take on board new skills. In a short time he has confounded his critics and even surprised the likes of me who woke up to his potential when he revealed and displayed his amazing spirit in his dogged defeat of Richard Gasquet in that Wimbledon quarter final.

To get to the final, Murray had to take on world number one, Rafael Nadal. Nadal has only just stolen the crown of Roger Federer, seen by some as the best tennis player of all time. The brilliant Spaniard was regarded as the man who would stop Murray from ever getting beyond a semi-final in a slam. Well, yesterday the Scot rewrote the script, and defeated Nadal under the same adverse weather conditions which saw Tim Henman fall to Goren Ivanisevic in the 2001 Wimbledon semi-final when rain interrupted play. The same old story, we worriedly thought, but no – Murray rose fabulously to the challenge.

I hope all tennis betting enthusiasts will join me in wishing him the best for the final. Not because he is British, or Scottish, but because, as a sportsman, he is a phenomenon of our age whose time has come and, being the match of Rafael Nadal, will gift us with many an enthralling game of tennis in the years to come.