Andy Murray - US Open Champion

Its a summers evening in 1999. I'm playing in a doubles match for my club in the North Kent League. It doesn't take long for me to realise that the young lad opposite me has some seriously good technique. Its only because he is just 13 years old and his partner (who happens to be his dad) was just not as good as us are the reasons we won 6-1, 6-2. After the game over a drink I speak to the boy. It turns out he is number 3 in the UK at under 14's. WOW, in my excitement I ask him if he will make it professionally, he said he hoped so, however, in a private conversation with his dad, his dad explained that the boys ahead of him are something special and are brothers from Scotland called Andy and Jamie Murray.

If we fast forward to 2005, I'm travelling across Africa on a truck. The BBC World Service is playing and during the news I hear that a young brit of 18 called Andy Murray has been knocked out by David Nalbandian in the 3rd round of Wimbledon. I'm sure you can imagine my excitement at this, as even though its the first time in 6 years I had heard that name, I had remembered it and the above match's memory came flooding back.

Now, I am an amateur tennis player and a qualified LTA coach so tennis is a passion. I have since spent 7 years arguing with many friends, colleagues and family that this Andy Murray would win a grand slam in his career and that I'd assume the US Open would be his first, although, I admit, I never expected it to take so long. Why so many people dislike Andy Murray is beyond me. I applaud this man, who has taken hatred from the public (mainly just because he is Scottish) and the pressure from the media in his stride. He has also laughed in the faces of people who believe he should have more of a personality, or should be more 'bubbly' on camera. Why exactly? Why ask him to be any different than he is? If you are ever lucky enough to see Andy Murray in a training session you will see clearly that he has a sense of humour, can be jolly, but this is in his own time and not just because the public expect it.

You do not have to be an avid tennis fan to see that the appointment of Ivan Lendl has been a major impact in this victory, but you cannot argue that the class has always been there.

Well done Andy Murray, a true champion.

The Rascal