Abby Brammell

By Paul Harris and Emily Andrews

Hope: Andy Murray will play in front of the Queen tomorrow


At least Andy Murray could be relied on for a British win yesterday.

For every other one of our hopefuls crashed out of the tournament… following the example of the four who had slunk off court in defeat the day before.

It was the worst British performance in Wimbledon’s 135-year history – the first time that only one home-grown player has made it through to the second round.

And despite the 80f sunshine, only Murray could lift the black cloud which was hanging over the nation’s players, as he swept into the second round with ease.

Despite a wobble at the start, it was business as usual for the Scot, both on the court and in the stands.

His on-off girlfriend Kim Sears, 22, was back to cheer him on, after a long absence, sitting alongside his mother Judy.

Crucially, Murray’s victory means that he will be able to play in front of the Queen when she visits tomorrow for the first time in 33 years.

That, at least, has saved Her Majesty the embarrassment of turning up to discover that none of her subjects is still in the running.

Yesterday, even Murray could not find a flattering word to say about the performance of his countrymen and women.

‘Yeah, it’s not a great start,’ he said. ‘It’s not ideal.

‘Obviously I’d like to see more British players playing in the tournament and more British win.’


Support: Spectators watch Andy Murray on 'Murray Mount' on day two of Wimbledon


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And taking a backhanded swipe at the performance of the women, he added: ‘Quite a few of them had a chance to win...didn’t quite take them.’

In total, six British girls have been dispatched in the first round. Yesterday Anne Keothavong, 26, and Heather Watson, 18 – one of our brightest female hopes – lost their matches.

On Monday, 16-year-old Laura Robson, Katie O’Brien, 24, Elena Baltacha, 26, and Melanie South, 24, were all defeated too.

By the time, 23-year-old Murray stepped on to Court One, the only other man British man in the draw, Jamie Baker, 23, had already fallen victim to Germany’s Andreas Beck.

Murray dispatched the Czech Republic’s Jan Hajek 7-5, 6-1, 6-2, to cruise through to the next round. He will face either Jarkko Nieminen or Stefan Koubek tomorrow, probably on Centre Court.


Cheering him on: Andy's mother Judy with his on-off girlfriend Kim Sears at Wimbledon yesterday


The Scot admitted that he was nervous about playing in front of the Queen, and said that he was hoping to meet her.

However, he added: ‘I might get nervous-and screw it up. I don’t know what I’ll say exactly.

‘I’ll probably be a little bit nervous, understandably. I guess I don’t want to mess up at all.’

And after a period of dithering, he has reassured his fans that he is going to bow to the monarch.

After his win last night, Murray thanked his supporters on his Twitter page. But, never mind the next match, it seemed there were only two things really on his mind.

‘In the car on the way back home’, he wrote. ‘Food and football when I get back.’

If there’s one thing he’ll doubtless be doing today, aside from practising that almighty serve, it’s watching England’s match against Slovenia in the World Cup. And by the close of play today, Murray will know whether he’s the only sportsman left to fly the flag for Britain. No pressure then, Andy.


source: dailymail