Reid aims to follow Murray’s lead with victory in SW19
Scot targets new Wimbledon title
AT first there was Goran Ivanisevic. And then Roger Federer, of course. Andy Murray coming on the scene, however, was a game-changer for Gordon Reid.
Growing up in Scotland, growing up anywhere in the UK, tennis has always meant Wimbledon for awestruck youngsters when, for a fabulous fortnight, footballs are replaced by racquets and raucous dreams of centre-court triumphs.
Born in Alexandria but brought up in Helensburgh, Reid was no different. He had his heroes, those iconic Wimbledon champions who would light up a summer.
And this year, for the first time, he will have the opportunity to follow their lead.
It was back in 2005 that Reid won his first wheelchair tennis tournament, just five weeks after coming out of hospital. He had been struck down aged 12 with a neurological condition in his spine called transverse myelitis, which left him paralysed from the waist down.
Tennis provided an outlet, a focus, and he wasted no time in making his mark in the game. An appearance at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 quickly followed.
Over the last decade or so, the wheelchair game has also found its place in the Grand Slam events — much like Reid himself — although some championships have moved faster than others.
Reid won his first Grand Slam events last year in the doubles at both Roland Garros and the US Open. His first singles title followed in January this year at the Australian Open.
In just over a month’s time, Wimbledon will stage wheelchair singles for the first time in its history — and Reid is determined to make the most of it.
‘It’s the first year singles has been included at Wimbledon for wheelchair tennis,’ said the 24-year-old. ‘I’m really looking forward to that.
‘I first played at Wimbledon in 2008 when I was just 16. It’s a special event.
‘I loved watching Ivanisevic and Roger Federer… and then Andy Murray started coming through. It’s an iconic event — definitely the highlight of the year.’
It was in Melbourne this year that Reid first experienced a little of that Murray factor. Triumphing in a Grand Slam singles for the first time, there was something of a Scottish band of brothers at play as Andy and Jamie both challenged for their respective titles. In the end, only Andy fell just short.
For Reid, it was an eye-opening, extraordinary experience.
‘I had won my first two Grand Slams in doubles last year, at Roland Garros and the US Open, so I did have experience of playing in finals,’ he explained.
‘However, Australia was my first time in a single Grand Slam final — and it was definitely different.
‘There was a lot, lot more media attention. There was a lot of interest in me getting to the final and having beaten the world No 1 in the first round.
‘I noticed my social media blowing up, so there were a few different things. But I really enjoyed the experience and obviously it ended the right way for me.
‘In Melbourne, you had Andy getting to the final, Jamie winning the doubles and it felt like a nice collective success.
‘We were all backing each other through the tournament and we obviously saw a lot of each other. It’s nice to have those guys supporting you and sharing the Scottish success together.
‘It’s incredible for such a small country that we have all this tennis talent.’
Indeed, with three Grand Slams, Reid is arguably ahead of the Murrays with his tally. Unsurprisingly for such a modest and level-headed young man, Reid bats away any comparisons.
‘It’s a different sport,’ he stressed. ‘Although we are at the same event and it’s tennis, wheelchair tennis is a different sport to tennis.
‘It’s hard to compare a Grand Slam in my field to a Grand Slam in men’s singles.’
Nevertheless, there will be a similar level of expectation on Reid because of what he has achieved. The French Open is already under way, albeit his tournament starts next week. How does he cope with the added pressure?
‘I feel quite relaxed,’ insisted Reid. ‘There might be a few people expecting me to repeat what I did in Australia. However, while there might be extra pressure, I also have the extra confidence that comes with winning a Grand Slam and going the distance.
‘I have my coaches to talk to and I also work with a sports psychologist, so we work on techniques to deal with stress and nerves because every athlete gets that.
‘I also have my friends there — sometimes my mates are the best agony aunts! That’s probably the biggest pressure, getting ribbed by my friends if I lose!
‘It’s the same banter anyone would have with their mates. But they are my biggest fans.’
In terms of support, Reid needs all he can get. It is an expensive sport and a sponsorship partnership with McCrea Financial Services will help him get to where he needs to go. In 2016, it’s quite the packed schedule.
‘There’s no US Open for us this year as it’s at the same time as the Paralympic Games,’ continued Reid. ‘There’s one less tournament to worry about but it’s still the busiest year we have, given it’s a Paralympic year.
‘There’s a lot of tournaments, a lot of training camps — a lot more commitments. I’ve got the French Open coming up, where I won the doubles last year.
‘It’s my dream to win Grand Slams and win Paralympic gold. My dream hasn’t changed all the way through my career.
‘I’ve ticked a few things off my list already but there’s a lot more I want to achieve.
‘For me, it’s about not focusing so much on the outcome but more on the hard work in training and performances.
‘I go into every event trying to win it, otherwise I don’t see the point in being there. The French Open, Wimbledon, the Paralympics will be no different — I will be going there to win it.’
It’s incredible we have all this tennis talent in Scotland