Tennis: Andy set for SW19

Jun 19 2009 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Friday

MURRAY-MANIA is likely to be at fever-pitch come Monday as Wimbledon 2009 gets under way.

Andy goes into this year’s showpiece event seeded three, as expected, the listings having been released on Wednesday.

Crucially, perhaps, Murray is also in the form of his life and appears to be dealing well with the heavy weight of the hype and expectation already being placed on his shoulders by the Great British public in the run-up.

The long wait for a British men’s singles title winner – Fred Perry being the last to manage this feat way back in 1936 – is one statistic which has just refused to be budged at SW19 but there are high hopes now that this could be the year.

The British number one – fresh from his win at Queen’s Club just last weekend – is rightly up there as one of the bookies’ favourites to take the title and few could argue with this on current form.

With the draw set to be made today (Friday), Murray will be hoping to avoid any potential banana-skins and set off on a run all the way to the final, scheduled to take place on July 5.

Last year, of course, he made the last eight – a run which included that memorable comeback in an epic five-set win over Richard Gasquet – but unfortunately then ran into champ-to-be Rafael Nadal in inspired form.