Eilidh out to run a Lille bit faster in Euro Team final
57-year-old mum, the former Fed Cup captain, is still a “one-woman band” in Scotland.
He said: “Even now it is embarrassing that after all the success Andy has had she is still driving in a van around Scotland and delivering tennis to kids in rural and deprived areas.
“She is doing that on her own. There is no help there.
“She would be the best person to run the LTA without a shadow of a doubt but she wouldn’t do it.
“For her, the biggest thing is that when we stop playing tennis there is nothing to show for it in Scotland. Sadly that is the case. She is there trying to do things.
“It is sad when you think of all the money that has been spent on performance centres all around the country and they have absolutely zero to show for it.”
The Scot is now 31 – but Canadian doubles star Daniel Nestor is 44 and still ranked No.20 in the world. Andy, 30, said last week he might only have a couple of years left at the top of the game. But his older brother said: “How long I keep playing depends on how you are feeling and your ranking. If I am still playing at the top of the game when I am 37 – why would you stop? Why would you not just keep playing?
“Daniel Nestor is 44. He has obviously slowed down now but his longevity is incredible. I could still be playing in another decade.
“Once you get to that age, it is one year at a time and then you reassess after each year.
“Nothing is going to compare to getting out on the court and competing. Any ex-pro would say the same. Nothing will come close to that. As long as you are at the top of the game I don’t see there being a reason to stop.”
Murray and his partner Bruno Soares play in the semi-finals of the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club today against Marin Cilic and Marcin Matkowski.
Andy, who was knocked out in the first round of the singles this week, will play exhibition matches at the Hurlingham Club next week before the start of his Wimbledon defence on July 3.
Jamie said: “He will try to get the good feelings and emotions of last year back.
“He has always played well at Wimbledon and once he gets out there with the crowd behind him I am sure he’ll play fine.
“Everyone was worrying about Andy going into the French Open and he got to the semi-finals and had a really close match with Stan Wawrinka – he was four points from making the Final on his worst surface.
“Wimbledon is probably his best surface – he will still have a great chance to win.
“I won’t be surprised if at the end of the two weeks he is lifting
the trophy.” EILIDH DOYLE has vowed to snare maximum points for the UK at the Euro Team Championships today.
But the Scot admits she’s also on a personal mission to raise her game.
The Olympic medallist was in cruise control last night in Lille as she eased to victory in the 400 metres hurdles heats in 55.76 seconds – her quickest time of the season.
But after a stuttering start to her campaign the 30-year-old Scot wants the confidence boost of a smoother run today.
She said: “I want to run a bit quicker. I really want to win to get the points for GB but it would be nice to get a good time to go with it.”
Elsewhere, England’s Harry Aikines-Aryeetey qualified quickest for the 100m final while Jack Green did the same in heats for the 400m hurdles.