Andy Murray and his entourage have been betting among themselves about the point in his matches when somebody in the crowd bellows out out “C'mon Tim!”
A riff on Wimbledon’s heritage, Murray knows old habits die hard and that the “joke” is always coming: “We were having bets about it before my first match,” he said. “I thought it would be in the first game, but it actually came four minutes in. I don't find it particularly amusing.”
Today on the Centre Court Murray, the British No. 1, takes on Ivan Ljubicic and there is some poignancy to the Tim Henman reference because it was 10 years ago that another Croat, Goran Ivanisevic, delivered the most shattering blow to Murray's predecessor who was the great home hope in the 2001 semi-final.
Ljubicic is not a left-hander but does possess an extremely big serve. That makes him a danger today and although he is now approaching the age of 32, his career shows little sign of flagging.
As Murray pointed out: “It's surprising that he has not done better on the grass before, because he has a good game for it.”
In 10 visits to Wimbledon, Ljubicic has managed to get past the third round only twice but he has one of the better head-to-head records against Murray among tour players. Although it would be a real shock if the Croat won this afternoon.
Three-time Wimbledon champion, John McEnroe believes Andy Murray’s friendships with the world’s top three tennis players, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, is impairing his claim to Wimbledon victory.
Murray occasionally practises with defending Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal, who he has described as his favourite player, spoke fondly of his friendship with Novak Djokovic days before losing to the Serb in this year's Australian Open Final and believes Roger Federer to be the greatest player the game has seen.
Murray's respect may be warranted and his affection genuine but McEnroe believes it is holding the 24-year-old back in key matches.
"Murray needs to get to them,"McEnroe said. "Grand Slam matches are not just tennis matches, they are mind games.
"He's got to find a way to get under their skin. It should be a part of his game, instead of saying 'we are great friends and everything is wonderful'.”
