Andy Murray - Rise and Rise Again

It’s been five days since that grand Wimbledon finals that saw Roger Federer soar to the seventh heaven as he won a record 7^th championship equalling the legendary Pete Sampras in the open era. The finals was in the limelight as every Championship in the SW19 should be, but this time the attention was overwhelming as an entire nation held its breath waiting for a lanky lad from Scotland to make history. Andy Murray, seeded fourth, lost the finals and managed to win thousands of hearts by his brave performance against the Swiss maestro.

Roger Federer and Andy Murray after the Wimbledon Finals.

Ever since Andy Murray went professional in 2005, there has been an unspoken weight on his shoulder. Much was promised by the scot and much was expected. From being ranked 407, he made his way to 64 and then quickly into the top 10 and eventually to a career high of second in the ATP rankings, becoming Britain’s top ranked tennis star. Murray was exceptionally talented and there was no denying it and it didn’t take the public to notice him as he made a name for himself in his very first season. From then, he was branded as the ‘messiah’ of English tennis and he became the reason people of Scotland and England united together. As the chosen one, it was he who would the end the drought – a wait stretching over seven decades – and win the Wimbledon. The English media was already certain of it and so was the English man who takes the tube to work every day. It was just a small matter of time.

That was perhaps the biggest reason why Murray broke down the way he did after his loss in the finals, bearing his heart in the open for the entire world to see. He was shattered and inconsolable, as he tried to find some words that would express what he thought and tried hardest to articulate them. Perhaps that was the highest point of that match, seeing how big and significant a game can be and just what it means not for the player alone but for the countless that had tears streaming down in the crowd at centre court and the countless in front of their televisions. For once you saw a player crumble not due to losing the match but for failing to fulfil the expectations of a nation and his own dream.

More than just a player – the hope and image of a nation.

Every time Murray enters the Wimbledon, the English crowd goes mad and the expectations and pressure that those skinny shoulders bear are huge. But as a professional sports person, it’s just another day, another match, and another result. But last Sunday wasn’t just another day. It was more than that.

Andy Murray has never won a Grand Slam tournament and has come second best thrice before and now seven years in the professional arena, Murray lacks the biggest titles. So the Wimbledon 2012 was that more special as he not only was looking to make history, trying to plug a gaping hole in English tennis but also probably ending his own doubts as he looked finally win a Grand Slam. Murray was determined and in the first set, he showed not only why he was Britain’s number one with some scorching aces, but also looked to play more aggressive than usual, unleashing his vast range of ground strokes and counter-punching anything Federer threw at him that set. No need to say he won the set 6 – 4. Federer however being the master that he was, suddenly raised his game as the situation demanded – a quality of great players and one Murray will soon learn – as he slowly found his form.

Murray grimaces at a point lost.

Murray was made to play out of his skin and despite having better numbers in the second set, Murray faltered at key moments, letting the Swiss equal him. His classic backhand passes and approaches to the net were suddenly no more a threat. Murray was a raging animal that was just scratched and Federer needed no further invitation to move for the kill. A sober Ivan Lendl watched his star student sprawl in the grass more than once as he desperately tried to match Federer. He fought till the end, but the result was soon clear and only the will to survive kept Murray fighting.

With Federer holding his serve and falling to the ground in his usual celebratory fashion, the 76 year wait dream remained unfilled. The patrician crowd which till now had cheered loudly ‘ANDY’ was stunned for a moment in silence, before applause filled the stadium for the victor and for the man who had given Britain an almost fulfilled dream.

“Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions”

Murray in tears acknowledged this wasn’t the end. After thanking his fans, family and supporters, he managed to kid about Federer’s age and finally confess, “I’m getting closer. This chance is gone, I can’t take today’s match back, obviously. But was it my best chance? I don’t know. It was my first time being in a [Wimbledon] final. I’m still improving, still playing better tennis, trying to improve, which is all I can do.”

The statement was one filled with belief and doubt at the same time. But the bottom line was that it was honest. Murray is only 25 and still has many summers before him. As a young boy, Murray overcame his bipartite patella to pick up the racquet again. The pain from that is very much still there, and even now, occasionally, he clutches his knee in pain, but that pain is worth it according to Murray and reminds him of his fight everyday. Likewise this loss will forever haunt him, and send a jolt of pain through his head whenever he thinks of it, but it’s just the start. There’ll be nights of agony but there is no doubt he’ll win a Grand Slam one day and maybe even fulfil the prophecy of being ‘the chosen one’ at the hallowed SW19. And that day, he’ll look back at this moment with fondness. I’ll conclude by reflecting every Englishman’s thoughts with the words of one of my favorite actors – Russel Crowe, “…Andy Murray, you are a champion in my eyes, one day, mate, it will be you. Rise and rise again.”