Salute to tenacious champion who won our hearts
THANK you, Sir Andy Murray. For the way you handled the immense pressure of being the great British tennis hope. For winning Wimbledon not once, but twice. For the pride you showed in playing for your country, winning two Olympic gold medals and the Davis Cup. For reaching World Number One in an era of tennis greats — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. For the way you’ve battled through injury. For all the stress you’ve brought us in supporting you, but also all the joy you’ve given to the nation. For showing how much it means to you in your emotional press conference and in the way you left everything out on court even when you were in pain. For being an inspiration. For the memories. Whether you decide to play your swansong at Wimbledon, have another hip operation in an attempt to extend your career or if the match this week in the Australian Open was your final bow, you can hold your head high. We are proud of you.
T. NICHOLS, Basildon, Essex. THERE is no doubt Andy Murray can be ranked alongside our greatest ever sportsmen, but even so, some of the over-heated reaction to his impending retirement has been extraordinary. He is not a heart surgeon, war hero or prime minister. He is walking, or rather limping, away from his field of battle, which is a marked off area in which he hits and chases after a small ball, trying to outwit his opponent on the other side of a net. His expertise at this has earned him wealth beyond most people’s dreams. Andy Murray has done much for his sport and perhaps even more for his home town of Dunblane, which he has helped to regenerate. He has years to enjoy with his wife and children. He may have been successful in his chosen sport, but he is also a lucky man.
DAVID PATRICK MOORE, Thornton Heath, South London.