MURRAY’S TOP FIVE WIMBLEDON MOMENTS
ANDY’S EX-COACH LEON SMITH SELECTS THE SCOT’S STANDOUT WIMBLEDON PERFORMANCES
THE history shared by Leon Smith and Andy Murray is long and triumphant. It stretches back to the Dunblane player’s junior career with Smith coaching the young Murray to a junior grand slam in New York in 2004.
It includes that marvellous weekend in Ghent in 2015 when Murray, with the help of his brother in the doubles, secured the three points that won the Davis Cup against Belgium under the captaincy of Smith.
Smith started as a club coach — working in Giffnock, Troon and Mount Vernon among other humble spots in the tennis world — but has ascended to head of men’s tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association while retaining the Davis Cup captaincy.
He has followed Murray’s journey closely for professional and personal reasons and has been a constant presence in the player’s box at Wimbledon.
When Judy Murray broke down in tears when her son won Wimbledon in 2013, it was Smith who embraced her, mother and former coach communing in one of the greatest days in British sports history.
With Murray returning to the gentlemen’s singles for the first time since 2017, Smith picks the five best matches that the Scot has played in SW19.
1 July 7, 2013. Beats Novak Djokovic in the final of the men’s singles 6-4, 7-5, 6-4
It is an obvious one but the emotion that day was off the scale. It was monumental not just for British tennis, but for British sport. The expectation on Andy had built year on year. Can you imagine the pressure on him? He’s said he can’t remember playing the last game. The atmosphere was electric and at the end of the match there was an explosion of pure joy.
I believe it has to be put into context, too. It was the strongest era in the men’s game. We know what Djokovic had done before and has done since yet Andy won in three sets. Talk about upsetting the applecart... it was an unbelievable victory by a player using all his skills and somehow keeping it together mentally.
2 August 5, 2012. Beats Roger Federer in the final of the London Olympics 6-2, 6-1, 6-4
OK, I have thrown a bit of a curve ball here. There were all the trappings and colours of the Olympics, yet it was Wimbledon.
It was the Centre Court against Roger and Andy had lost to him in the final four weeks earlier. But the Olympics was a unique occasion. There was a different fan experience. There were a lot of fans who were maybe at Wimbledon for the first time and they created something special.
The biggest reason I have included it, though, is that it pushed Andy on. He had not won a grand slam then but now he had beaten Novak in the semi-finals and Roger in the final to win Olympic gold. He absolutely crushed Roger, an extraordinary performance. A couple of months later Andy won his first major, the US Open. The Olympic triumph was a crucial part of that.
3 July 10, 2016. Beats Milos Raonic to win men’s singles at Wimbledon 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2)
This is a more predictable choice. Isn’t it astonishing we can talk about two Wimbledon titles? Raonic was the underdog but had a formidable weapon in his serve. At Queen’s, Andy had not only returned a 147mph serve from Milos but hit a winner off it.
Andy was dominant in the Wimbledon final. The scoreline seems tight but Andy was always in control. The match showcased an important part of Andy’s game: his return. His concentration when receiving serve is immense. He has the technique and the intelligence to deal with the biggest serves. He didn’t give Milos a look at winning.
People always talk about Andy losing grand slam finals but the only people that have beaten him in those matches are Roger and Novak. So, basically, you have to be one of the greatest players of all time to beat Andy in a grand slam final.
The victory over Milos was part of a great year for Andy. He won the ATP World Tour final at the O2, beating Novak. He ended the year as world No 1, a terrific achievement in the era of Roger, Rafa and Novak.
4 June 30, 2008, Beats Richard Gasquet in the fourth round 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-4
Aah, the Gasquet match. It was a definite staging post on the road to the top. Gasquet was an excellent player and raced into a two-set lead. Then we saw the signs of the champion Andy became.
The image of him running to the sidelines and flexing his muscles after that passing shot will live on. It was the first obvious sign of his improved physical conditioning. It showed he could last five tough sets.
It was the start, too, of the Murray roar on Centre Court. It was a match that signified the crowd were with him and always would be. It was also a sign of what was to come.
This was a dramatic occasion. It was pure theatre. One of those matches that lingered into the night. Andy has been involved in more than his fair share of both drama and late nights at
Wimbledon. This was the best for me in terms of a performance in that lingering light.
5 June 23, 2005. Beats Radek Stepanek in second round 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
In tennis terms, he was only a kid, what 18? He beat George Bastl comfortably in straight sets in the first round and the excitement around him just explodes. He then faces Radek, a very good professional (seeded 14th that year) who was good on grass, and Andy beats him in straight sets.
I watched with great interest as Andy was now under the coaching of Mark Petchey. I was delighted for both of them. It was a hugely impressive performance. There was a growing realisation that Andy was more than just a promising player. This was a performance that sent out a message to the tour.
SO what are the chances of another magical Murray moment?
There is the certainty that his return, against 24th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili and almost certainly on the Centre Court, will produce another lingering memory with an outpouring of affection. ‘He has earned that,’ says Smith. ‘But you must remember Andy wants to win.’
The unspoken but strong message is that the former world No 1 is not interested in a lap of honour. ‘The key for Andy is to amass matches,’ says Smith. ‘He had two good performances at Queen’s and his movement looked good. That marked progress and Wimbledon will provide further evidence of where he is.
‘He will want to cope with a series of matches. He will love being back at Wimbledon because he simply wants to play tennis. That is a good message he sends out to the youngsters. His
enjoyment of the game has not diminished.’ There are too many intangibles to make a definitive judgment on what Murray might do, particularly given the uncertainty over how his body will react. But Smith remains hopeful over his friend and of the leading British players in the men’s singles event. Smith has watched Dan Evans come back from a doping ban to break into the world’s top 30 and prosper on clay this season, beating Djokovic en route to the Monte Carlo final. The 31-year-old was banned for a year in 2017 after testing positive for cocaine and Smith says: ‘He has redeemed himself through hard work. He is the model pro. His work ethic is outstanding.’ At 5ft 9ins and slight of build, Evans has had to construct an individual style and it has proved successful, confounding physically stronger opponents. ‘He is quick, agile and has excellent hand skills. He plays differently from most pros,’ says Smith, who expects there is more to come from the Englishman. There is, too, the adopted Scot Cameron Norrie who has embraced his Caledonian roots after a childhood in South Africa and New Zealand and a college career in the USA. The 25-yearold is playing better than his ranking of 36 in the world would suggest, reaching the final at Queen’s only to be beaten by the big-serving Matteo Berrettini.
‘He is simply hitting the ball harder,’ says Smith. ‘He is a powerhouse of consistency too. He has improved immensely, winning a seeding at Wimbledon. His operating standards have gone through the roof and he has shown he is capable of beating top 20 players.’
Also involved, through a wildcard invitation, is 19-year-old Jack Draper. The Englishman is ranked outside the world top 250 but his potential is huge. Standing at 6ft 3in, he looks poised to make a breakthrough soon, albeit he faces Djokovic in the first round. ‘He has been held up by illness and injury,’ says Smith. ‘But he has a massive serve, a big forehand, and he moves well.’
There is an expectation in British tennis that the left-hander will soon move up the rankings. The anticipation in the wider world, though, focuses on the return of Oor Andy to the scenes of his greatest triumphs. Is there another magical moment to come?