MURRAY BEATEN ON HOME TURF
What makes sensational Serena the...
ANDY MURRAY said losing at Wimbledon hurts more than anywhere else after brilliant Roger Federer blew him away in their semi-final. The Scot could not touch the serve of the 33-year-old Swiss star, who will play Novak Djokovic in tomorrow’s final seeking a record eighth singles title. Murray, who lost 7-5, 7-5, 6-4, said: ‘All losses hurt, obviously, especially in the major events. But here is always tough. I feel like this is my best chance to win a Slam.’
Muguruza tells parents: stay away!
GARBINE MUGURUZA hopes that disappointing her parents will help her devastate Serena Williams this afternoon, with the s uperstitious Spaniard banning her mother and father from attending the biggest match of her life.
The 21-year- old admitted on Thursday that her parents, Jose Antonio and Scarlet, had called to say they wanted to be at the ladies’ final. But Muguruza has told them to stay at home in Barcelona, insisting she does not want to change a routine that also sees her clean her teeth at the same time each day, as well as putting a particular leg out of bed first in the morning.
She said yesterday: ‘I’m not that superstitious. But my parents, they’re going to be in Barcelona watching me from the television. I don’t want to change anything.’
Muguruza has the rare luxury of stepping on Centre Court believing she has Williams rattled, having
beaten the 33-year-old in the French Open last year. She said: ‘That win is really important because it makes you see and realise that she’s also a person. She also has feelings, she is also nervous.
‘And to her, she knows that I can win against her, that I’m not afraid. I don’t think she’s really used to this, Serena doesn’t lose many matches in the year. But she’s world No 1 for something. It’s going to be my hardest challenge.’
The American said: ‘ Losing against her was an eye-opener for me. Some l osses you’re angry about, and some losses you learn from. That loss I think I learned the most from in a long time.’
Williams dismissed the comparison between her 2004 final loss to Maria Sharapova, then 17, and the clash with Muguruza, the 20th seed, as ‘apples and oranges’.