A Royal effort
Posted on 25/06/2010Andy Murray's straight sets victory was somewhat overshadowed by the Isner-Mahut marathon on Court 18 on Thursday. But on the day the Queen made her first appearance at Wimbledon since 1977, Murray was a model citizen, writes Mark Reason in The Telegraph.
The revolution can wait. Citizen Murray walked on to centre court, turned to the Royal Box and bowed like a courtier. The borders may have seethed at their man's obeisance but all was well at Wimbledon.The Queen was in her seat and the Scot was in his heaven, gliding to a straight sets win.
The tabloids may have hoped that Murray was going to dash on court with a claymore and try to shred Her Majesty's hat, but it was never going to happen. Murray is a well brought up lad who is far more interested in winning tennis matches than starting the New Republic.
Relishing the extra attention, it was apparent as early as the second game that Murray was going to demolish Jarkko Nieminen. The Finn leans back on his wide-open forehand as if he were playing air guitar at the Eurovision Song Contest, but he just couldn't get enough amps to bother Murray.
After the early threat to Murray's serve, it was a subdued match, as inevitable outcomes tend to be. Even the crowd seemed to have toned down their dress for the occasion. On one side of the court there was a couple in GB hats. Across the lawn a pair of women who looked as though they would usually be first in the check-out queue were wearing saltire T-shirts.
They were the only signs of rampant Scottishness. Where were the usual orange wigs that tend to turn up at Murray matches? Where was the tartan army? Had it been repelled at the gates of Wimbledon by security officers asking people to remove their Celt before they came in?
It all seemed to wash by the Queen. Before the match she rummaged in her bag for a pair of glasses, a reassuring rejection of the divinity of Kings and Queens. When the match began she sat almost impassively among folk who seemed to have decided to dress like frumps in order not to upstage the monarch.
It would have been hard to upstage a matching hat and combo that was either turquoise or kingfisher blue depending on your eyesight. Happily a mad milliner hadn't tried to attach a clump of strawberries to the Queen's headgear. The crowds straining for a view when the Queen arrived moaned: "I only saw 'er 'at," but at least they didn't get an eyeful of summer fruit.
Thankfully Roger Federer was also subdued for his meeting with the Queen, dressed in a sober jacket and the club tie rather than one of his egotistical white and gold disco suits. Tim Henman also wore the club colours as he watched from the Royal Box.
Was that the Western Grip or the Continental that Murray was employing as he slipped his left arm behind and right out in front for the royal bow? The Scot wasn't overly impressed by his efforts - "a bit awkward" - but these top sportsmen are always super self-critical.
On court even he was satisfied. Murray's sometimes wayward forehand ripped through his Finnish opponent. It was as if his cursing energy had been put into a new supercharged forehand in order to spare the royal ears.
The match was over in under two hours and Nieminen should take much credit for that. Not only did he lie down as required by the occasion, he doesn't have that annoying habit of sorting through a selection of tennis balls like a pedant at the greengrocers.
The Queen, who last came to Wimbledon in 1977, clapped enthusiastically that the match was over so quickly. A quick thumb jerk then seemed to signal: "Get me outta here." She has always preferred the nags.
Afterwards Murray parried questions about his post match conversation with the Queen as easily as blocking returns of serves on the practice court. It was that sort of day. Everyone was on their very best behaviour. You almost yearned for the McEnroes and Nastases of yesteryear.
How to beat the Germans
So it's England v Germany again. Germany's superior record in penalty shoot-outs is enought to make any England fan nervous, but The Sun's Steven Howard is confident that England will come out on top.On the way to Munich's Olympic Stadium on September 1, 2001, I popped into a tobacconists and bought a cigar.What the hell, I bought two.
Proper, full on, Bill Clinton-style efforts, rolled on the inside of a young Cuban firecracker's thigh.
There was a funny feeling in the air that Sven Goran Eriksson's team were about to deliver in this vital World Cup qualifier.
Despite defeat at Wembley 11 months earlier that saw the end of Kevin Keegan, England had put a decent run together and a few us of even tipped them to win.
As the third goal went in, the first cigar was lit. As Emile Heskey completed the 5-1 rout, a match was applied to the second.
A little theatrical maybe. But days like that don't come along very often.
And there's a strange feeling in the air once again here in South Africa.
Instead of Ghana and Uruguay, it's Germany and Argentina.
At the same time, Ghana and Uruguay are just the kind of sides England always struggle against.
A Ghana team of great strength and athleticism, a Uruguay team boasting one of the liveliest forward lines in the tournament.
Germany, though, will bring the best out of us.
The big-name teams always do.
Germany may be stuttering after their bright opening but they still glory in the name Die Turniermannschaft - The Tournament Team.
And 11 months after England pulled off the Miracle of Munich, it was they, not Eriksson's side, who reached the World Cup final.
And then there's England, who have not beaten one of the world's elite at the knockout stage since... 1966.
But is this Germany, despite their young talent, a member of that elite? Probably not. Especially with Lukas Podolski struggling in front of goal.
We will find out for certain on Sunday when England will be hoping that old heads are not, as Der Kaiser suggests, betrayed by equally ancient legs.
Despite that, even Beckenbauer rates the outcome at 50/50.
So, will it be a case of close but no cigar? I don't know what's coming over me - probably cabin fever - but I detect another Havana moment coming on.
Send for the men in white coats.