08/07/2012 08:33 CEST - Rassegna Internazionale

Intervista a Papà Will: "Andy è il mio orgoglio" (The Daily Telegraph)

Judy Murray, with her maternal exhortations from the players’ guest box and regular television appearances, has become almost as recognisable as her son.

Andy Murray’s father, on the other hand, has steered clear of a public spotlight that has grown brighter with every victory.

Yesterday, Will Murray broke his Wimbledon silence, praising his son’s achievement in becoming the first British player to reach the men’s final in 74 years, while urging him to go all the way and win the tournament.

A television audience of 20 million is expected to tune in to the BBC to watch today’s men’s singles final between Murray and the six-times winner Roger Federer, while 15,000 fans will watch inside Centre Court.

Some of them – those that have bought tickets on eBay or via other internet sites – will have paid up to £30,000 for the privilege of seeing (fingers crossed) history in the making.
 

The Duchess of Cambridge will be joined in the Royal Box by the Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Gloucester.

David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, will be there, too. David Cameron, the Prime Minister, will probably attend with his wife, Samantha, Downing Street said yesterday.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen – reportedly not a fan of tennis – has a prior, private engagement and would not be there. The Duke of Cambridge is also unavailable prompting suggestions the Duchess of Cambridge may take her sister, Pippa, or her mother Carole with her for company.

Those without tickets or a VIP pass were not deterred.

As early as Friday evening, fans had begun queuing, tents at the ready, to stake a place on Murray Mound – formerly Henman Hill – in order to watch the final on a big screen, the nearest spot to their hero without being inside Centre Court.

Yesterday, Mr Murray Senior recalled how he took his son to Wimbledon as a boy. The young Andy, a primary school pupil, would marvel at his idols and seek out their autographs.

Mr Murray, an area manager with a chain of newsagents, told The Sunday Telegraph: “Andy first picked up a racquet at the age of six. Tennis has been his whole life.

“I remember bringing him here when he was eight years old and he would walk around trying to get the autographs of the players.

“He would get really excited about meeting the tennis stars and that is why today he will always sign the autograph books for the fans.”

Mr Murray, who has been a regular presence in the players’ guest box over the past fortnight, spoke of his pleasure after his son beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals, but warned that the job was still to be finished.

“I can’t tell you the pride a father feels on seeing his son go into the final of Wimbledon,” he said, “It is something a lot of people have waited for and Andy has done it now.

“But he has to be prepared. The job is only half done and he will know he will have to be at his very best.

“When he looks to the other side of the net, he will see Roger Federer, who has won the title six times. So Andy will have to be ready.

“Getting to the final will mean a lot to him, but he will know that there is still one more match to win.

“But I am extremely excited and proud of him. We will celebrate after the match together.”

Throughout the past fortnight, Mr Murray has sat with Sam Watson, his new partner.

Miss Watson is also confident of success.

“I think he can win against Roger and he knows most of the people on Centre Court will be supporting him. It is going to be fantastic,” she said.

The son of Fred Perry, the last British man to win Wimbledon, urged Murray to match his father’s success.

David Perry, who lives in Arizona in the US, said yesterday: “I think my father would be proud that finally someone’s come along who’s good enough to take a shot at it. Dad would have said: 'It’s been 75 years, it’s time for somebody else to get there.’”

Fans, who will have been queuing for 40 hours – some of it in the rain – yesterday declared their determination to get a spot on Murray Mound.

“It is the biggest day in Andy’s life and I want to be part of the party,” said Rebecca Simpson, 24, from Croydon. “I can’t get on to Centre Court and see the match, but my friends and [I] are going to make so much noise from in front of the big screen so that he [will] hear us as he plays.

“The tension in front of a TV in my living room will be too much and I want to scream and scream.”

The campers will be woken at round 5.30am today, and taken by stewards through security and into the queue for ground passes, allowing access to Murray Mound.

About 3,500 people are expected to cheer Murray on from the hill with a further 4,500 watching on a screen inside number two court.