Andy Murray's Date With Destiny

Andy Murray will surely fulfil a lifetime's ambition walking out onto Centre Court alongside the greatest player of all-time Roger Federer to compete in the Men's Singles Final. It will be a momentous occasion not one experienced by a Brit for seventy four years and who knows when it will be achieved again. That in itself is the scale of his achievement in what is his fourth slam final appearance and he has reached seven of the last eight slam semi finals and has now reached a slam final in the Australian Open (twice), US Open (once) and now Wimbledon (once). There can be no doubt now that if Andy never wins a slam he will be one of the very best never to have done so as I cannot think of any slamless player with such an array of achievements.

My hope is that Andy takes a totally uninhibited attitude onto court and plays an aggressive game. Evidently, his game hasn't been so passive here at Wimbledon if we look at both finalists stats coming into the final:-

Total winners from Federer in tournament = 222

Total winners from Murray in tournament = 237

Total aces from Federer in tournament = 59

Total aces from Murray in tournament = 74

Whereas Andy has an 8-7 lead in the head-to-heads Federer has won all the matches that matter in slams. Roger Federer won't be giving away any free points tomorrow so every point won will have to be earned. For obvious reasons Roger is the warm to hot favourite to win the title and my head (and past disappointments in past slam finals) would tell me Roger will end up winning another slam. However, will Ivan Lendl come to the fore now and impart some of his wisdom and help Andy find that missing ingredient? If he does it will be a mind-blowing British sporting achievement.

Best of luck Andy.

Great article CC. Whatever happens tomorrow it is an incredible achievement. Here's hoping Lendl can give him that bit of extra belief.

He will need it against Federer.

We shouldn't forget, that since that last slam defeat to Federer (which in retrospect wasn't as bad as we all thought - Andy deserved that 3rd set, but just didn't capatilise on his many opportunities) that he's beaten Fed in their two Masters finals since then

Depends on the weather for me. Indoors (so to speak) Fed has been awesome. Outside, with a breeze - as is likely on Sunday, Andy has a great chance

Banbo - that 2010 match is often misrepresented. People talk about it like Murray was never in the match. The truth is he was broken early in the first set and them broke back. He then had an opportunity to go a break ahead, but didn't take it, and was then broken by Fed the next game who held on to take the set.

In the third set he was 5-2 up and Fed came back, and then had multiple opportunities to win it and take it to a 4th. So when people talk about it as a one sided match, it was actually only the second set where Murray didn't get a look in. The other two sets he could have won.

It was different to the other 2 slam finals, in which he was thoroughly outplayed in both.

Total winners from Murray in tournament = 237

What will the total winners in the final be?

Cannot wait to see the disappointment on the faces of these Scots yet again. He hasn't been able to handle the pressure and he still won't tomorrow. What usually happens is Murray goes down an early breaks and loses his cool and he knows he can't get cheap points like he did in the semi's.

If you want to converse on this topic do so in an adult manner. By the way how are you reading this since I am on your foe list??

And I used to think you were reasonable Josiah...

Murray has played the best tennis this wimby. but thats immaterial. Its all about the final. I hope the crowd help him out. I hope he wins, it will be great for scotland - you lot desrve it at the moment big time, bad times for footy. It will offcourse also be a big deal for the whole of britain as well.. Lets all get behind him. Hes a top player

I hope Queenie doesn't turn up. I think it's ridiculous if she does.

why would it be ridiculas. the final of our major!!!

Its not even just about support- she might actually wanna see the game.. why the heck not

Too much pressure. Tell her to back off, Murray doesn't need that. Don't think she'll arrive anyway.

i dont think anyone would feel anymore pressure because the queen is there lol. he has enough on his back- he has even noted that he does feel anything about his parents being there- I think your reading to much into it

I think it will be more pressure but hey ho.

Anyone know what the overall court times are? I think it must be pretty close between Federer and Murray.

I do believe Murray has been on court around two hours more than Federer. I stand corrected if I am wrong.

break_in_the_fifth wrote:And I used to think you were reasonable Josiah...

I'm surprised you think about anonymous posters.