They May Take Our Lives, But Never our...ANDY!!

So David Cameron lowered the flag of St. George over Downing Street on Monday as the English football team headed home after failing to end 44 years of hurt.

But now the tabloids are trying to persuade the English football faithful that Dunblane born Andy is actually English. Why? Because his maternal grandmother was both to a Berwick-Upon-Tweed solicitor and his York born wife.

So taking into consideration the dispute that the town to the north of the Tweed is actually Scottish and that it's designation has changed so often through history. That would leave Andy's mum Judy's mother, Eileen Edney being the offspring of indisputably English* Joyce Anderson.

So lets apply laws that England football fans and FIFA understand: so that rules out offside and what constitutes a valid goal. To qualify to play for you nation you have to have been born or have one of your parents or grandparents born in that country. For Andy Murray that is seven counts of Scotland.

Guess Andy isn't an English Rose after all, but that doesn't stop the whole of the UK supporting him, so he can be a thorn in Rafa Nadal's Championship hopes this afternoon.

Also if Downing Street can take down the English flag after a team goes out in the last 16 of a major tournament why aren't they raising the Saltire in honour of a Brit from another part of the United Kingdom who is two games further on and looking to get to the final ending either 72 or 74 years of hurt since we had a home grow finalist (Bunny Austin '1938) or winner (Fred Perry 1936).

* Hang on isn't York a Viking kingdom? Especially with a name like Anderson?

Head to Head - Murray v Federer

"I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me."
Fred Perry (1909-1995)

There are now less than 12 hours before Andy Murray faces Roger Federer in the final of the Australian Open. The Scot goes into the final knowing one thing. Win or loss he will still have a better win-loss record against the worlds number one and not a lot of people can say that. But of course as Andy himself has said he wants to chalk up another in that win column. Here are the 10 previous encounters.

Bangkok Final, 2005, hard court: Federer wins 6-3, 7-5

Andy's first tour final when he was only 18 but he came up against the world number one. Andy had just broken into the top 100 at the time. But taking 8 games in a 2 set defeat was still nothing to be sniffed at in his first meeting.

Cincinnati Masters, 2006, Second Round, hard court: Murray wins 7-5, 6-4

This was the second week of the teaming up with Brad Gilbert and Andy faced Fed in the second round. He was one of only two players to beat Federer that year, the other being Nadal.

Dubai, 2008, First Round, hard court: Murray wins 6-7, 6-3, 6-4

Federer has just lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open Semis and game up against an unseeded Murray in the first round. It isn't often that Federer loses in the first round of any tournament but this was a sign that Andy was a real contender.

US Open final, 2008, hard court: Federer wins 6-2, 7-5, 6-2

Andy's first Grand Slam final, but unlike this fortnight he'd had a tough time getting there. This time he has really only played half a set over the minumum requirement to get to the final. This time he is fresh in New York he was tired as this demolition proved.

Madrid Masters Semi-Final, 2008, hard court: Murray wins 3-6, 6-3, 7-5

Andy had won the Cincinnati Masters Event before the US Open and this was his first event after that defeat in the Final. So in the semi-final they meet again but this time the Scot fought back after losing the first set to take a second successive Masters but this one by beating Fed.

Masters Cup, Shanghai 2008, hard court: Murray wins 4-6, 7-6, 7-5

Over three hours of grueling tennis that knocked Federer out at the Round Robin stage of the season ending tournament. Tomorrow might well be a long old slog and this is a sign that Andy can win such encounters against Federer.

Doha Semi- Final, January 2009, hard court: Murray wins 6-7, 6-2, 6-2

Andy recovered from a back injury in the third set to record yet another win on his way to the final.

Indian Wells Masters, March 2009, hard court: Murray wins 6-3, 4-6, 6-1

Murray fended off a second set fightback to snare his opponent for a fourth successive time in the semi-finals but went on to lose to Rafael Nadal in the final.

Cincinnati Masters Semi-Final, August 2009, hard court: Federer wins 6-2, 7-6

Federer finally wins one again over the newly-crowned world No 2 and defending champion in this semi-final encounter but brushes aside his poor head-to-head record against his rival. "It doesn't matter to me, I'm past that point."

ATP Tour Finals, London O2 Arena, November 2009, hard court: Federer wins 3-6 6-3 6-1

In London Andy starts well taking the first set having broken Federer twice. But his serve deserts him in the final set as Federer gets revenge for his defeat the previous season.

So there you have it. Their record is 6-4 in favour of Andy. My prediction is that it won't be over in three sets. I think Andy will edge it in 4 or 5 sets.

A Little Bit of Murray Magic

Possible the shot of the day from yesterday's match between Andy Murray and Marin Cilic.



But that wasn't all from yesterday The Times take a look at another wondershot.

Thanks to my brother for unearthing this footage of that shot.



He will on Sunday become the first British male since 1977 and John Lloyd to appear in the Australian Open final against either Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. But Andy says he'll be disappointed after the tournament he's had if he doesn't win.



UPDATE: I do apologise for the lack of video no on this post Tennis Australia have decided that the couple of minutes of Scottish genius that I wish to show should not be available on You Tube are stopping almost every stream that was showing this.

Murraymania for Breakfast

No doubt there will people at work with radio headsets in, others looking at the BBC live text update, some may even be watching the live stream. Today is Andy Murray's third Grand Slam semi-final against the man who denied him a chance to repeat his previous final when he beat him in the 4th Round at the US Open last year.

Maran Cilic is the number 14 seed but he is coming up against the number 5 seed in form. Murray has not dropped a set and took the game to Rafael Nadal in the last round, and was leading and playing well until injury to the Spaniard robbed him of a win in normal terms, instead of the technical knock out.

Murray mania will be coming to an office near you in less than an hour.

Murray to Leave Perry

Mister Fred (why was he never dubbed by a monarch?), the last British winner of a Grand Slam, may not be sure whether to job for joy or turn in his grave. In his centenary year the new British hope Mister Andy is preparing to break away from his clothing label replacing the laurel crown for the three stripes of Adidas.

Mister Andy of course is currently trying to get a Grand Slam win wearing Mister Fred's gear, though Herr Roger and Senor Rafa may have a thing to say about that in the final and semi respectively. But having won 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 despite and a rather lame looking second set, when the heat appeared to get to him Mister Andy is striving on with confidence; aided by the odd ice pack.

The move to Adidas is a success for both the Brit's management company 19 Entertainment and Adidas themselves. The company with the tick* have Herr Roger and Senor Rafa, Mister Andy adds to the big four tennis battle by joining Gospodin Novak, the world number 4 in the Adidas stable. Of course Eng-er-LAND both in cricket and football are already in the stable, so maybe Mister Murray's views on the auld enemy on the sports field may be tempered by a contract clause.

By the way you can follow Mister Andy's blog or Senor Rafa's blog through the links.

Nike*

Plucky Young Brit Goes Out Fighting

Miss Laura* finally got to the end of her match, started on Friday, yesterday. As I blogged earlier she had taken a lead in the first set before losing it on the tie break and then suffering the rain delay.

Yesterday she came out against Miss Eva Hrdinova to a slow start going 3-0 down. But then she showed the promise that has made her being talked about as the next big thing in British Tennis taking ten of the next twelve games, to take the second 6-4 and lead 4-1 in the final set. But the Czech ranked 257 places ahead of her pulled it back to take it the next four games to lead 5-4. But then Miss Laura took eight of the next nine point to lead 6-5 and a chance to serve for the match and a place in the main draw. But she was broken and lost the subsequent tiebreak 7-4.

However, it will not be long before we see Miss Laura getting into the main draws of the Grand Slams, she will remain in New York to take part in the Juniors event.

Fellow Brit Miss Elena** took the first set 6-4 in her final qualifier. But Australia's Miss Anastasia Rodionova took the next two 6-2, 6-4. So it is over to Mister Andrew alone in the final Grand Slam of 2009.

*Robson.
** Baltacha.

Rain Delay Hitting Young Brit

Mister Stephen is off up in Edinburgh to see about his fringe, heaven knows where he'll find it it's been missing for years now.

Anyhoo, as I wrote last night the young cubess of British Tennis Miss Laura* is playing in Blushing Meadow between the showers we'd be expecting at SW19, but didn't get this summer. She made a promising start leading 5-2 in the first set of the final qualifying round against world number 128 Miss Eva 'Lck of Vwls' Hrdinova. Unfortunately for British Tennis fans the Czech came back to force a tie break which she won 8-6, but the heavens have since opened. Here's hoping Miss Laura can get her mind ready for the restart whenever that happens.

Miss Elena** our other Brit hoping to join Mister Andy the second best man in the world in the main draw is still waiting to hit a ball in her match due to the rain.

*Robson.
** Baltacha.

British Tennis Would Rather the Rain was at Wimbledon

Well Mister Stephen certainly got the lioness's hearts pumping, and a few of the lions as well, earlier when his posted this pic of Mister Andy. It makes you think that the event may be played at Blushing Meadow.

But while Mister Nasty John is tipping the young cub from Dunblane to take over as king of the New York pride from Herr Roger, not Señor Rafa. There is a lioness cub and an other more experienced Brit lioness praying that the rain would go away and fall on SW11 rather that NYC. For both young Miss Laura* and Miss Elena** are one win away from joining Mister Andy in the main draw, but dark clouds of the literal sense are hanging over New York. Rain is forecast for today when they are supposed to be playing and again tomorrow. You can hear the Wimbledon fans roaring 'Get a roof!'

Miss Laura created a stir in New York on Wednesday when she shook paws at the end of the game a comfortable winner 7-5 6-1 over World 128 Mademoiselle Stephanie Foretz who is 332 places higher ranked. She was to play a lady who really needs a more even spread of vowels the Czech Slecna Eva Hrdinov. While Miss Elena is looking to take on the Aussie Miss Anastasia Rodionova.

It's all sounding rather Eastern European in the women's game even those that live elsewhere, and with Miss Martina junior taking to the dance floor in Sparkly Guys Prancing it really is the wrong time for New York to have a long rain storm. We remember Mister Goran against Mister Tim.

*Robson.
**Baltacha.

Friday Blog Phwoar!!!

I opened The Times this morning and saw the picture to the right by Howard Bingham and knew that a few of my readers would appreciate me sharing it.

You know who you are!

Lionel having met the fellow bloggers again last is getting all excited about doing some more blogging and indeed asked "Can I write about Mister Andrew's attempt to take Mister Roger's shiny pot off him?" with a request like that how could I refuse.

Watch Lionel's take on proceedings at the US Open Tennis coming soon.

Glorious Sunday for British Sport

It was quite a magnificent Sunday of British sport yesterday. It all started in Sepang Malaysia where Jenson Button after a poor start from pole battled up through the field from fourth and put in a couple of 'storming' laps after his nearest rivals had pitted for that first change of tires to come out well up the track.



However, when the rain came down Timo Glock made the audacious and in the end correct decision to go out on intermediate tyres while the rest of the field put on full wets and start to gain 6 seconds a lap. By the time they pulled Button in for Intermediates as well Glock was passing him as he sat in the pit lane.



Then just after all the field had changed to the Intermediates and Button had just regained P1 Glock dove back into the pits to start the move unto full wets first again to go to what was to prove to be the right tyre. When Jenson followed suit he had again to overtake the German but the race had become a power boat race by lap 32 and was red flagged. The drivers sitting on the grid in a thunderstorm waiting to see if they would restart. So it was that Jenson Button won his second Grand Prix of the season while sat on the grid under a brolly, he only needed a bowler hat instead of his helmet to make the British image complete.



Later in the day over in Miami rain wasn't going to be Andy Murray's worry. Storming to a 4-0 lead in the first set of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami against the man whose position in the rankings he is chasing down, Novak Djokovic, he eased to a 6-2 first set. And then at 1-0, a break up, in the first set he watched his opponent call for the trainer, it seemed to unsettle the Scot as he lost the next 5 games on the trot. But then found the flow of the first set to take six in succession to take the title dubbed the 'fifth grand slam' 6-2, 7-5. In doing so he equalled Tim Henman's career titles at an age when Henman only dreamed of being that good. He also now with three wins this season is the most successful champion on the mans tour as we head into the clay season.



The day was rounded up by Paul Casey over in Houston, where he didn't have a problem despite dropping his one shot led on the eighteenth and bogeying the play-off hole. It was still enough to secure him the Houston Open, his first win on the US Tour where he now plies his trade. An ideal built up to the US Masters later this month at Augusta.

Andy to Take on Fed

Oh what a night. The resumption of the Rafael Nadal v Andy Murray semi-final in the US Open took place on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and a different Rafa Nadal seemed to have come out when the the 3rd set continued with serve with Rafa hardly under threat on his own serve a difference from the night before. The Spanish world number 1 ended up taking that set 6-4 after returning to court 3-2 up and facing a break back point in that 10th game.

The start of the 4th set both players went to 0-30 in each of the the first 5 games. but it was the third at 1-1 that could have been a turning point as Andy had 7 break points on Nadal's serve but each time the Spaniard somehow managed to keep himself in the game, taking it on his third time of asking. Andy then started to serve up too many unforced errors losing his next service game to love with four unforced errors from the Scot. We all did start to wonder if the pervious game now spelt the end of hope for the Scot. However on the next game on his first break back point Andy was back in the match, befo9re holding his serve to take it to 4-3. The next two games went with serve leaving Rafa serving at 4-5 down to stay in the match.

Andy had a lucky netchord on the first point and thte ball dropped in with RAfa unable to do anything about it. then taking the game to deuce Andy came into the net punching away a volley to bring up his first point to take him to a slam final. Then it was Rafa's turn to employ an illtimed. illexecuted drop shot which the Scot easily got to before smashing a forehand drive past Nadal to take on Roger Federer in this evening's final.

Andy was already assured 4th place in today's rankings whatever the outcome of the match but tonight he goes for what may be his first slam. Roger will no doubt be hoping not to go the whole season without winning a Slam. But Andy has beaten Federer in the past indeed he is one of the few players to have the better of their head-to-head record over the former world number one. The way he has played and talked this fortnight Andy belives he can win this tournment. Tonight may be the last night we hark back to 1936 and Fred Perry's win in this tournament as the last British man to win a Grand Slam event.

Even Rafael broke with tradition and posted on his Time's blog after losing beacuse it was our player. Magnanimous in defeat just as he was at the end of the match.

All the Best Andy. All of Scotland and now the bulk of the UK (listening to 6-love-6 last night) are behind you.

Go Andy Go - Live Blogging on Murray v Nadal

ANDY Takes First two sets 6-2 7-6 2-3 rain delay

Ok Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal are on Louis Armstrong Stadium while Federer and Novak Djokovic are on Arthur Ashe.

The Scot breaks Rafa in the third game of the first set before holding his own serve and breaking the world number 1 again in the seventh game. Then he takes the set with a little bit of Wimbledon-esque serve volleying. As David Ferrer the only person to beat Rafa in a five set match also took the first set this is looking good for the Scotsman.

Second Set

At 1-1 in the second set Nadal is struggling when he fires a backhand out wide to Murray's forehand, but the Scot smashes back a forehand winner down the lime to make it 15-40 and two more break points for a third break for the Scot. Andy maybe getting a wee bit to excited at the possibility squanders them both but at Deuce Rafa fouls up a driven volley to give another break point. However hawkeye confirms the shot that may have caused Nadal problems early in the second set is wide. Nadal having clawed it back from the brink with the help of technology hangs on, for now, as the players return to their seats. Apparently Mr and Mrs Greg Norman (ie Chris Evert) have come over from the Arthur Ashe stadium for this one, we know the former Mrs Lloyd has a soft spot for Brits who do well in New York, she married one. Andy serves out game 4 to love, over to Rafa again.

Andy is doing a lot to make it hard for Rafa and takes it to 30-30 before Rafa puts a forehand wide for the Scots 4th break point in two games. But after Andy returns the first smash, Rafa makes sure to get this game to deuce on the second asking. However, a cross court backhand sees the Spaniard again facing breakpoint. Whoops first dodgy drop shot is swallowed up by Rafa, followed by a tame attempt at a lob. Another game of survival for Nadal, you'd think that Andy was the world number one at the moment though. Murray holds serve after a drop shot fails first point. But with two forehand winners and two aces takes it easily again to level at 3-3. A couple of error from Murray allows Nadal to ease to 30-15 having lost the first point. Then after a won point by Nadal Murray puts it into the net. Nadal has his first easy hold of the second set.

Murray comes to the net but is passed, but then scores an ace 15-15. Another ace takes the Scot to 40-15 before coming again to the net to put away a forehand volley into the open court, 4-4. Rafa puts a forehand out down the line, first point in game 9 to Andy. A cross court forehand down at Nadal's feet makes it 0-30 on Nadal's serve. But he responds with his third ace of the match, then forces Murray out wide to score an easy forehand winner. Murray goes for a big forehand winner down the line but just misses. After a great rally pummelling away Andy pulls it into deuce. But Andy puts it into the net on his forehand, then putting a service return wide. Points won so far Andy 61 Rafa 46 the winner will play Roger Federer who has just won 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2 against Novak Djokovic.

Andy serving to stay in the set. Andy plays a drop shot which Nadal scrambles to get but a vollied lob gives Andy the start. Just wide from Rafa makes it 30-0. Nadal again errors going wide with his backhand, before another ace to round up the game to love. On Nadal's serve he is made to go left and right before ending the rally by netting. A slice backhand from Rafa forces Andy to lay the ball up on plate for Rafa to put it away. Clean service return winner cross court take it to 30-30. First serve misses, Andy crushes a return Murray break point. Nadal saves another break point at the net and does a double fist pump when Andy can't reach it. Murray again moves Nadal around and forces the Spaniard to go long from the baseline another breakpoint for the Scot his 8th in the match so far. Nadal almost puts away a clean winner but Andy reaches it but the defensive lob is easily put away by Nadal back to deuce. Murray puts it into the net advantage Nadal, but Nadal fails to take it deuce once more. A mishit forehand from Murray allows Nadal back in again, which he then takes with an ace. He's saved seven break points in this set alone, Murray has yet to face one in the entire match. Starts with his twelfth ace, but then crashes a forehand too long, then puts a forehand wide. Is Andy starting to try too hard? Then another crushing serve down the middle 30-30. Nadal puts it wide as Andy serve vollies of second serve and with another big serve takes it to a tiebreak.

First point of the tiebreak is a mini break to Murray as Nadal puts it wide. But straight away take it back as Murray set the ball up to high. Another Murray ace! 13-4 on ace count. Nadal lazily puts a drop shot into the open court Andy chases it down and puts it away down the line. But big serve and Andy puts it wide, but the Scot still has the mini break. Andy double faults, his first, going for a big second serve. First serve long but Andy comes up with another forehand winner 4-3. Nadal puts his first serve into the tram lines but a backhand from Murray goes way too long. Murray nets his next service return. 5-4 Nadal. Second serve from Andy picks up and Nadal's return trickles along the net before landing on the Spaniards side, then another big serve for set point for Andy. Rafa serving to stay in, Andy punches a twohander down the line and then Rafa pushes his shot wide. Two set to love for Andy Murray.

Third Set

While Andy may be putting some shots just long he is going all out for this. But putting it into the net makes it 15-30 on Murray's serve at the start of what may be a very important set. Going for a big backhand Andy just puts a cross court wide, Nadal's first break points of the match. Murray puts it long and Nadal takes his first break on his first breakpoint of the match. Andy starts the next game with a big winner. Then goes long on his backhand next point. Rafa is getting pumped as Murary puts it into the net. Murray stops mid-rally to challenge the line judge and gets it right as Nadal has put it wide. Nadal punishes a Murray drop shot to take the second game of this set. Andy starts with a serve volly but is easily passed, but constructs a better rally to bring it back. An ace served out wide, followed by another. Andy comes in to serve volley but Nadal doesn't even make him have to play it, 1-2.

Andy gets back into the point but instead of going downline goes back across court and misses. Nadal goes long with a forehand. But on the next serve a Murray mishit goes wide and another wide shot makes it 40-15 Nadal. A strong Murray backhand only sees Nadal put it into the net. But a great serve down the Murray back hand forces the error and wins the game for Nadal. Another double fault at the start of the next Murray service game. Nadal mishits the second serve return on the next point but is let off when Andy nets his shot. Then Nadal returns the favour. Murray scoops it up cross court in a squash type shot, Nadal runs it down but misses down the line, another Murray two aces brings up another game and Andy shows that he can recover when under pressure now. Andy 2-3 down with the break to Nadal.

The umpire has come down from his chair to check the conditions on the court has the rain from Hannah arrived? They are going to wait for this little shower to stop and then see where we go.

Andy is not happy and goes out into the centre of the court saying he doesn't think it is slippery. They are finally taking the players off the court. Depending how long this takes I may pick up my blogging later.

Gentlemen Flex Your Muscles

Oh boy these two would probably have one heck of an arm wrestling contest but tonight in the Arthur Ashe Stadium if the threatened rain halts the actual event: as tropical storm Hannah, but not her sisters, decide to peter out over Manhattan. However, it is merely the latest in the series of tennis matches between Mister Andy on the left and Senor Rafa on the right. Two of the previous five meetings have been in Grandslams. Although this is the first time either has reached the Semi-Finals in New York.

While all Brits may want to forget this summers straight set win for the Spaniard at Wimbledon lets not forget that the last time they meet in a best of five sets on hard courts in Melbourne in 2007 it went the distance and Andy was ahead 7-6 4-6 6-4 3-2 before Senor Rafa won 10 of the last 11 games against a tiring and least prepared Mister Andy.

The Spaniard has had a good run of wins including the last two Grand Slams and the Olympic Title but then so had Senor Juan Martin before he ran into the immovable Murray wall that the two lads from Dunblane have only had barely breached thus far this fortnight.

Whoever wins, whenever they get to play, will get to their first American Open Final, we'll see who wants it more amidst all the fist pumping the one who wants to complete the set or the one who wants to start.

All the best Mister Andy.

Murrays Take Manhattan: Ok not quite

Mister Andy has every right to be punching this air this fortnight. Last night he made his way to his first Gran Slam semi-final beating the Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-1) 4-6 7-5. Anyone who had money on the Arthur Ashe Court resembling a fight at Madison Square Gardens hopefully wasn't too put out by the sport that actually took place.

Mister Andy is only the fifth British man to have reached a Grand Slam singles semi in the open period joining Roger Taylor (not bad for a drummer), John Lloyd, Greg Rusedski and Mister clean Tim of Henmania. Of course if he beats Senor Rafa in the semi he will only be the second British man to make a final in New York this tournament, indeed only the second Murray as big bro Mister Jamie is hoping to seal his second Mixed Doubles Grand Slam title with partner Liezel Huber later today. He's beaten he former men's doubles partner Eric Eric Butorac playing with Jill Craybas 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday.

Murray the Master

The lad from Dunblane Mister Andy has won his first Master's Series Event in Cincinnati. Yes this may be the city that once had Jerry Springer as mayor but this is no Jerry Springer story.

First Herr Roger fell, then Senor Rafa fell to Gospodin Novak in the semi-finals. It didn't degrade the final that is was a Djokovic v Murray final, these two 21 year-olds are fast becoming the next tier behind Federer and Nadal and not afraid to take on and play well or beat the big two in the game. Djokovic already is the world number 3 and if the Scot had not been injured for much of last summer one wonders just where he would be. However, he will be ranked number 6 in the world as he flies out to Beijing for the Olympics this week.

It is good for the game that the guys are coming up behind the top two, just as Rafa is getting close to Roger's cherished position at the top of the pile. We're not at a changing of the guard just yet but we're at a strengthening of the guard which may well lead to some interesting clashes going forward.

Sometimes It's Better When You Say Nothing At All

Wow yesterday was a busy day here at my old blog, ironically I hadn't post anything. Was too busy with work, ended up leaving as Andy Murray had just rallied to win the third set and recieved a barage of text messages saying "Ain't this great", while all I went was, huh?

Although the rest of the week is far from quiet after all the second quarter has just ended I'll be doing my best to keep some sort of normal service up for the rest of week. I'm also hoping Andy v Rafa is on second on Wednesday so I may get a chance to see some of it live.

Scottish Highlights of the Rugby Season???

We're in the depths of the Six Nations Rugby tournament and the Scots would normally be gearing up for this weekend's Calcutta Cup match against the Auld Enemy England in high spirits.

But if the reaction to my getting on the coach to return from the football at Hamilton the last international weekend is anything to go by eyes are meandering elsewhere. For I boldly took off my Livingston top to reveal my Ireland jersey on arriving back at the coach around the 5 p.m. kick off time in the Ireland v Scotland game. Only for the initial comments of derision to turn in to comments I think you;ll at least be supporting one winning team today.

So with Scottish sporting hopes so low for this time of year step into the breath one Andy Murray. Yes in the depths of Rugby season and tennis is the saviour of the nations hopes. Yesterday he beat wold number 1 Roger Federer without once facing a break point.

Now admittedly in 2008 half of the tournaments Andy has played he has been knocked out in the first round. However, the other half he has gone on to win. In fact he has tended to alternate these two all year. So Roger should have known he was doomed from the start as in the last tournament Andy played in he was knocked out in Round one.

Of course gentleman Rog is not going to hold sour grapes. Ahem!

OK so he'll criticise the style of the youngsters play which he says hasn't changed since they first met in 2005. But hang on he's beating Roger twice in their last 3 outings, is in the top 10. Yes maybe he runs a player around and waits for the mistakes, but he has youth on his side and no doubt his style will change as he gets older. Is Roger getting worried? Methinks he doth protest a little too much.

From the Bahamas with Love...

...good luck.

Well it appears that Sir Sean Connery thinks that young Andy Murray might have been up celebrating reaching the third round at 3 a.m. before his win on Saturday against number 3 seed Andy Roddick. However, his call if probably more likely due to the elder Scot forgetting the time zone difference.

However, as young Andy said there is "nothing cooler than being woken up by James Bond". Even though he went back to sleep and let the answer machine take the message. Good job it was about an important message.

One problem with Saturday's match, apart for the murmur around the court as England failed in the penalty shoot out, was that both players were called Andy. So the cheers from the stands were for Roddick or Murray instead of Andy which could have lifted both players simultaneously. Thankfully that will not be replicated this afternoon. Although the Scot will be facing a Cypriot in Mediteranean conditions it looks like Andy is better conditioned to counter such things this year than last.

Come on Andy.

Scottish Success

Well done Andy Murray on becoming the youngest Brit to win an ATP title. At 18 years 9 months he is 1 year and 1 month younger than Greg Rusedski and 3 years 7 months younger than Tim Henman. Also encouraging is that he has acheieved this peak a full year younger than Roger Federer, who he has already played and although beaten was not humilated.

I know that we shouldn't put pressure on him but I'm impressed he beat Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt on sucessive nights at the end of a tournament so I think we can say his suspect fitness is getting eliminated and pyschologically he is taking on the big players and aiming for success. Unlike Henman, grass may not be his best surface but I'm sure the Wimbledon crowd will be encouraging him all the way when he next appears in SW19.