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Leading article: Volley of despair

Tennis can be a cruel sport. Andy Roddick's wicked serve has blown away the nation's dreams of seeing a Briton in the men's final of Wimbledon for the first time in seven decades.

But, in fairness, we ought to recognise that it was not only Roddick's serve which was the difference between the two players yesterday. The American's game was formidable in many areas. And Murray, despite the vociferous support of the Centre Court crowd, was not at his best.

Disappointing as the result is, it was fair. And we should not be too crushed by the collapse of the Murray Mound of expectation. The young Scot has given us two weeks of marvellous entertainment. And this is hardly the end of the road. Murray has been getting steadily further in the All England Championship with each passing year. And he is also still only 22 years old. There is still an awful lot of tennis to come from this young player. Don't desert the Murray Mound yet.

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Quite Right
[info]popskihaynes wrote:
Saturday, 4 July 2009 at 07:56 am (UTC)
Murray is a brilliant young man who is highly competitive in a way that Henman just never seemed to manage, that he will win a Grand Slam indeed several during his career is not a doubt but I suspect the first is likely to be anywhere else other than Wimbledon. He handled the pressure well but let us be honest, the British Media just love to crucify any young sporting hope, the old game of "build them up to knock them down on a slow news day" still rules in this land.

Yesterday the best man won on the day but also Roddick and even the magnificent Federer are both people who's stars are now waning, Murray's is yet to wax let alone wax full. Andy Murray has had a fantastic year and there is an awful lot more to come in the years ahead. Although very disappointed both he and we should be proud of the distance he has travelled in a very short time, well done him and those around him.

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