‘My wife won’t like our tennis’
Murray prepares to take on big-serving Querrey Kim prefers matches between smaller players
For the past few days, Andy Murray has been relegated to sideshow status by the new heroine of British tennis.
As Johanna Konta conquered, Murray was able to step away from the front pages and remember what life used to be like when he was just another wannabe.
As part of their preparations for Murray’s quarter-final today – his 10th at Wimbledon in as many years – the BBC asked him what he remembered about his first appearance here in 2005.
In reply, he did not talk too much about taking out 13th-seed Radek Stepanek. Instead, he referred to staying in the basement of a local house, walking to the practice courts, and feasting on pizza as his pre-match snack.
“I do remember fairly clearly that I didn’t eat well,” Murray replied.
“With things like diet, we just didn’t know any better and I was very naive. [And] when I went to speak to the press I just said whatever I was thinking, whatever was on my mind. There was no filter, no concept of everything else that goes on at an event this big.
“I know I was nervous,” he added, “but I just had no expectation to do well, so it was completely different to the kind of nerves I get now.”
With only one match in the last four days, and Konta dominating the headlines, Murray has enjoyed a handy quiet spell in which to play with baby Sophia, sift through his memories, and work on that chronic hip problem.
Today, though, it is back to business, as he faces a card-carrying Wimbledon giant-killer.
Only last year, Sam Querrey created the shock of the Championships when he ousted Novak Djokovic – who at that stage had won 30 straight grand-slam matches – in the third round. Up until that moment, his tennis had arguably created less of a splash than his turn on reality TV show The Bachelor.
At 6ft 6in, with the shoulders of a rugby player, Querrey is the quintessential American jock. And like most American men, his game is all about serves and forehands.
He has hit 99 aces in this tournament to date, placing him second only to Gilles Muller – the man who overcame Rafael Nadal just before darkness fell on Monday night.
When playing a big server, Murray is better than anyone at shutting down those cheap points. Even when his explosivity is compromised by injury – as has been the case all tournament – he has an uncanny ability to guess where the ball is going.
“Andy is one of the greatest returners in our game and he’s going to find a solution,” said the former British No 1 Greg Rusedski. “He might drop a set but I expect him to come through in four.
“For me, the major concern with Andy coming into these Championships was his hip.
“He seemed to be moving a lot better on Monday [against Benoit Paire]. The match against Querrey is not going to be long rallies, just a break here or a tiebreaker there to come through.”
Muller’s epic victory over Nadal was the first real upset in the men’s tournament, and it was a significant one, because Nadal had been the outstanding player of last week.
The path to the final is now clear – clear of fellow Big Four members, at any rate.
This means that, should Murray get past Querrey, he will cement the No1 ranking at the end of this tournament.
He will also face another ace merchant on Friday, whether it be Muller or the sensationally in-form Marin Cilic, winner of the 2014 US Open. Murray is entering land-ofthe giants territory here, as the only man left in the top half who stands less than 6ft 5in tall.
We can expect some staccato tennis, full of two- or three-shot rallies. Unfortunately, he admitted yesterday, this is not the sort of tennis his wife Kim prefers to watch.
“Everyone likes different things,” said Murray. “There will be people in this country who don’t like watching me, who don’t like my personality or who don’t enjoy my style of play.
“That’s why I think it’s healthier for the sport if there are three or four players – men, women, lefthanders, right-handers, tall players
“Like my wife, for example. She likes watching players who are small and aren’t as strong – players like Gilles Simon or Dominika Cibulkova.”
Given that the next generation of players are led by 6ft 5in Alexander Zverev, Mrs Murray may soon find herself frustrated by some of the viewing options on offer.
All the more reason for her husband to put paid to Querrey’s challenge today.