Murray’s tune has Glasgow fans dancing
THE RELUCTANT sort of jig he did to the quick bit of Runrig’s most popular ditty suggested that Andy Murray doesn’t share the, ahem, enthusiasm for dancing that saw mum Judy ‘playing Wembley’ for Comic Relief yesterday. Oh, what she and Brendan could do to a stirring rendition of Loch Lomond, eh? When it mattered, though, the youngest son of Britain’s most celebrated novelty hoofer hardly put a foot wrong. Under the kind of pressure that comes with being Britain’s only male player inside the world’s top 100, Murray delivered a Davis Cup triumph that took GB into the quarter-finals.
A first home victory over the USA since 1935, secured when the former Wimbledon champion — no slouch when it comes to ending multi-generation waits for historic achievements — beat John Isner i n straight sets yesterday, tees up a home tie against France in mid- July.
Murray would like it to be played right here, in Glasgow. If only the agronomists and logistic experts can figure out a way to squeeze a grass court i nto a venue of suitable size.
Either that or, as the Scot points out, the home team just give up the advantage of an outdoor summer tie on the green stuff — and fill something like The Hydro to capitalise on the fervour of his support. Over to you, LTA, Visit Scotland, Glasgow Life et al.
However difficult it might be to find a location that fits every need, you can understand the desire of Britain’s No 1 — and everyone involved in this threeday festival of sporting drama — to return to the city as soon as possible. Yes, the Emirates
Arena is a top venue. But, as certain other sports seem to have forgotten, people make the occasion. And the enthusiasm of the 7,500 who filled the place yesterday, no surprise considering they could have sold every ticket three or four times over, definitely gave Murray and Britain the edge.
Isner, the big man brought down to size by James Ward on Friday night and then the GB lead player yesterday, said of the Murraymania: ‘In this atmosphere, there are not many people who could beat him out there.’
The atmosphere yesterday was never what USA captain Jim Courier calls ‘South American crazy’, nor did it have the edge you’ll find at sporting events more red in tooth and claw.
These are nice people, good people. Men and women — a lot of women — who love their sport and know how to roar their approval, but who would no sooner storm the court than sink their teeth into the players.
They were hungry enough for victory yesterday, turning up ready to offer Murray all the backing he needed in his quest to gain that precious third point. Nobody, least of all those with work tomorrow, wanted this to drag on into a five-set showdown between Ward and Donald Young.
‘Show Your Colours’ was one of the demands made of supporters by the marketing men over this long weekend of sport and, like patriotic souls, a significant number went to some lengths to obey the command.
Just one point. Those plastic red-white-and-blue bowlers and cowboy girl hats? They don’t really look good on anyone. No, not even the glittery ones.
Ach, it all added to the gaiety of the occasion, played out against a sea of Union Flags and Saltires, even a couple of Lion Rampant flags. Tourists? From the 1970s?
Out on the court, it quickly became clear Murray was by far the more rounded and subtle player t han his opponent, although to pigeonhole Isner as merely a big lump with a thumping serve would be unfair. He suffers from Peter Crouch syndrome, his other gifts overlooked because he’s 6ft 10in in flats.
Oh, to see the service court from his viewpoint. Imagine standing on a step-ladder, then consider the angles that must be available to him every time he throws the ball up in the air.
The American put Murray under pressure, definitely, and his bleak demeanour at the end of the tie — ‘This one’s on me,’ he said, blaming himself for the team failure — was a little harsh. If his loss to Ward might have been avoided, even a top-20 player like Isner is always going to be up against it when Murray’s in the mood.
Scotland’s greatest active athlete was close to top form when it mattered, winning a pair of tiebreaks either side of a set with just the one break of serve. His ability to chase down and return unreturnable shots, occasionally appearing to dislocate both shoulders, his hips and his spine in the process, must be annoying for the guy over the net.
He tormented Isner with drop shots, moved him all over the court, even lobbed him for that crucial break of serve in the second set. Against that kind of versatility, even the heavy artillery of the big yin’s serve had no chance.
And so it was GB who celebrated when victory was finally secured, doing a sort of combined bouncy/ huddle — very astute, pleasing both sides of the city’s football community — before gathering up flags and hopping along to the soundtrack.
Who knows? Maybe, if the stars align and the quarter-final does come back to Glasgow, Our Andy will be out there leading everyone in The Slosh.