A Brit in the men's singles final for the first time in 74 years.

Andy Murray was excellent and very dignified in defeat: no disgrace to lose to Roger Federer who played some extraordinary shots particularly in the third and fourth sets and is a more than worthy champion.  

Dignified? He didn't even walk around the court showing his trophy to his very supportive crowd! 

His usual wingeing at every lost point, endless challenges, very slow to get up from a pansy fall and following wingeing, hobbling long walk back to the baseline 

Roger is a gent and outclassed him all throughout match. The only time Murray may have a chance, is when all the other players are too old or ill.  

Yes he cried, it's a game of tennis.

Some tennis players used to sulk, laugh, swear and shout throughout their matches (Nastase did all of that!) some never showed a flicker of emotion (Borg) some were simply machine like (Sampras) and some played up to the crowd (Jimmy Connors) ...why is Murray getting stick for not smiling during a match and being grumpy when he's missed a shot when that has been part of professional tennis for various players for the past 30 years or so?  Every sportsman deals with their emotions in a different way.

I simply don't understand the grief Murray gets for being human!

I'm probably wrong, but I get the feeling you're not a big Andy Murray fan

I'm definitely a fan of Roger's too, but thought he could have let Andy have his day today, after all there is only so much space on his mantelpiece and it must be pretty full. 

All the best, Guy 

I think 99% of the tour tennis players are great, it's such a shame that the one that I don't like is British.

Jet Johnson, when you play club tennis, you get to know who's a pain in the backside. These type of people are not pleasant. It doesn't matter if it's Wimbledon or the county clubs, it's all the same. 

The first two sets of the match were incredible and although Federer is a great champion I was of course supporting Murray.  I found his after game speech vindicated my belief in him both as a player and a person.  I have always felt that his persona in interviews reflected the fact that he is an intense person - but not necessarily a miserable one.

As it happens I have never made any distinction between English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh.  We are all one nation and some of the finest pilots I ever flew with were Scottish while I was based in Glasgow.  Anyone of any intelligence will recognise that where you are born is an irrelevance, it is how you live your life that counts and Murray has nothing to be ashamed of - he put up a great fight against a magnificent champion.

Jonathan

Mike Hughes, you do keep presuming where others get their opinions from and what they read. I don't read the press fyi.

I'll have to address the other points tomorrow as it's far too late.

P.S. Calm down, it's only a tennis debate.

Jeez some of you people need to take a good look at yourselves. That interview was done many years ago when he was still a teenager. I saw it and it was a joke. The interviewer asked him a light hearted loaded question and he answered with a big smile on his face. It was a bit of banter, no more than that. If we took to heart the number of jibes over the years about Scottish goalkeepers (doesn't happen so often now for some reason) and insults about the Scottish game in general we'd never be off the phone to the BBC and ITV. Get over it.

And as for laughing at opponents, I'll challenge whoever said that to provide evidence. Put up or shut up in other words. But we all know that never happened. It's just lies. On court he has always been intensely competitive and doesn't tolerate fools gladly. Like he's the first tennis player to be like that. This year in particular though his behaviour has been absolutely impeccable. Off court he has always been unfailingly polite and courteous to his opponents and interviewers even though he occasionally makes it obvious when he feels a particular question has been a silly one. BFD. He's not alone there.

And as for McEnroe, while accepting his massive talent I loathed him as a player. It was no coincidence to me that he tended to throw his tantrums when he was in trouble and he admitted recently that it was often deliberate in an attempt to unsettle his opponent. He was cheating in other words. It doesn't stop him being the most entertaining, knowledgeable and likeable commentator/pundit around now though.

The British drought continues (as it well should).

Both players played close to their best tennis, with Murray IMO playing better than he has in any of his previous major final appearances, but Federer was just too good and outplayed him from just about every part of the court.

I feel a little sorry for Murray but I just don't want to see a British (or even worse, English) player win Wimbledon in my lifetime. With another slam and against another opponent, it might be a different matter. Or if Scotland secedes......

Why such vitriol on a British hifi manufacturer's web site?

Tom,

Quite agree,

Though sport at the highest level - except cricket - holds little interest for me, I could not ever wish for example never to see a Brit, win at Wimbledon. I cannot see that it is important enough to get worried about! It must be thirty years since I last watched a tennis match on the television, though I enjoy playing the game, even though I am terrible!

Equally there is no nationality that would worry me if they DID win at Wimbledon!

If one wants to direct powerful thoughts and emotions at something, then pick an important topic, such as rescource conservation and the ballooning human population and the implications for species diversity and long term sustainability!

Now there's a serious, though not irate post for you!

ATB from George

At a tennis level I think Murray played extremely well for 1 3/4 sets, but his opponenent responded and found his way ahead. When that happened Murray could not/did not respond himself either with greater intensity or a new plan. As for the fall/movement etc the problem is that Murray often looks stiff/pained/uncomfortable or has a stage-limp when things are going awry. It may be his frail body (and willingness to throw himself around), or just a rather ill adapted response to adversity. Whichever, if I was his opponent I'd be rubbing my hands with glee once I saw it, and Federer was too good not to drve the advantage home.

I decided his emotional response at the end was really a bit odd. I cannot think of many elite sportsmen who would have done that in public view. I'm not sure it makes me think any better or worse of him but I do wonder a) if he'll ever break through the clearly enormous mental barrier of winning a Grand Slam and b) if he does get that release wether then he just might go up several notches and really blow everyone away thereafter.

Bruce

Well done Andy Murray. I'm sure he didn't intend to bare his soul to millions, but his post-match response raised my respect for him and proved just what what the championship meant to him.

Takes all sorts eh? I don't suppose he would comprehend a bunch of Hi-Fi nuts.

John.

I don't think any of us have ever been in the position Andy was to know how we would react to having an experience like that. I'm not talking about the actual match or being beaten - I suspect he can accept that.

But how do you think you would react to having all those hopes resting on your shoulders. Discussed for days on end in the media, the Scottish Saltire being raised above No 10 (when was the last time they did that for someone), the current PM, the first minister of Scotland and royalty watching you play and supporting you ... never mind the 15 to 16 million people watching on tv in this country alone. And then the chant of his name by the crowd during (I think) the last game - that would move me and I'm not known to be a blubber.

I'm not a Murray fan particularly (nor any tennis player really) but I think he did well and to be 3rd or 4th best in the world is an outstanding achievement. I think I'm with Bruce in wondering what he might achieve if he could just - not so much raise his game - but maintain it a the highest level when he is playing well for the duration of the match ... or at least at those times when it matters.

End of report from occasional armchair tennis watcher.

Cheers

Scott

I like your forum name Scott. Nice one.

I wonder if you know who considered using it as an alternative band name.

John.

Thanks John,

No I don't know who considered using it. I am of course aware of the band that used the first names of Mr  Anderson and Mr Council (and as I'm a bit of a fan I chose the alt name). Was it them ? Before they decided on the first names of course

Cheers

Scott