Murray starts Wimbledon drive
LONDON—Defending champion Andy Murray and last year’s runner-up Novak Djokovic take Center Court stage as Wimbledon gets underway Monday with both men having urgent points to prove.
A proud Scot he may be but Murray, who ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s champion when he cruised past the Serb in the 2013 final, finds himself shoved into the role of British cheerleader following England’s World Cup football misery.
Murray starts his campaign against baby-faced Belgian David Goffin, shrugging off any nationwide post-Brazil stress, preferring to concentrate on a smooth start in the Wimbledon sunshine.
The 27-year-old, who has not made another final since last year’s Wimbledon history-making title, also wants to put those who have criticized his choice of Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach firmly in their place.
“I think Amelie will help me. I’ve really enjoyed the last 10 days I spent on the court with her. It’s been great,” said Murray who has reached at least the semifinals on his last five appearances at the All England Club.
Goffin, 23, is ranked at 104 and enjoyed a run to the third round in 2012. That came just weeks after he recorded his best result at a major when he came through qualifying to make the fourth round at the French Open.
Djokovic starts against 26-year-old Kazakh, Andrey Golubev who is ranked 55 and has lost all three of his main draw appearances at Wimbledon.
Despite being number two in the world, 2011 champion Djokovic is the top seed over current world number one Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic hasn’t played since losing the French Open final to Nadal two weeks ago and believes the tournament could witness more seismic upsets such as the shock early defeats suffered by both Federer and Nadal 12 months ago.