Thousands watch ace practice before glory bid on Centre Court

Black Swan Oscar-winner Natalie Portman and golfing legend Gary Player.

The National Grid is braced for a major power surge today after it was estimated 500,000 kettles and millions of TVs will be switched on simultaneously.

A record TV audience for a Wimbledon final is expected with numbers expected to hit 18million – with an estimated two million in Scotland.

A peak audience of 17.29mi l l ion watched Murray’s 2013 Wimbledon final win.

Wimbledon’s al lt ime record is 17.3million for 1980’s Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe final.

Chris Humpherson of TV ratings provider Overnights.tv said: “Murray’s very popular now.

“So there’s a very good chance the final will be one of the mostwatched Wimbledon matches ever, and one of the biggest TV events of the past three years.”

In Andy’s home town of Dunblane, planning for today’s Wimbledon party went on into the night.

Fiona Bennie, tennis convener at Dunblane Sports Club, said: “The club will be open and we are inviting everyone to come down and watch the match with us. There will be strawberries and cream and we will be cheering for him. We will be celebrating whatever the outcome.

“To do it once is fantastic – but to do it twice is amazing.”

And Blair McCafferty, assistant manager at Dunblane pub The Tappit Hen, said: “I would imagine all the bars will be busy.

“We have three extra staff on on Sunday to cover it, we are expecting a big crowd.

“We had a street party the last time he won, and I imagine it will be the same again.” The last batch of up to 600 facevalue £ 175 Centre Court tickets for today sold out in 30 seconds after being put on sale on Ticket master’ s website at 9am yesterday.

The Stub Hub resale site was selling tickets for today at £51,983 a pair – working out at 149 times the price of a £175 standard face-value ticket.

Fan Brian Walters, 43, said: “I’m sickened by the greed of these people selling their tickets.

“Wimbledon should ban the reselling of tickets.”

The All England Club said: “Debenture tickets are freely transferable and can be sold on the open market. It is a legitimate

but unofficial market.” Hardcore fans camped two nights from Friday evening for a ground pass to watch on the Murray Mound big screen today.

No Centre Court tickets are available at the gate.

Thousands more supporters will arrive early this morning to queue for ground passes.

But many face being locked out when the queue reaches its 4000 capacity for Murray Mound.

Fan Rachel Johnstone, 39, from Edinburgh, said: “Andy’s on fire and going to win it. His rivals have helped. Novak Djokovic went out early and Roger Federer tired out Raonic in that five-set semi.”

Golf fans watching practice at The Open in Troon will be able to see the tennis men’s f inal at a dedicated viewing area at the Ayrshire course.

The R& A said: “Spectators can watch some of the world’s best players practising on golf’s greatest stage – and also enjoy the tennis while relaxing on giant beanbag chairs at the large screen viewing area.”

Meanwhile, an Andy Murray fan who was lef t f ight ing for his life after being hit by a four-ton van was at the front of the Wimbledon queue in hi s wheelchair a day after being released from hospital.

Aberdonian Graeme Durno, who suffered a fractured pelvis and bleeding on the brain, said he was det e rmined to make the championships even if it killed him.

We had a street party last time he won and it will be the same again