Andy Murray and Scottish tennis

[Annie]

Here it's +15 and sunny ;D we are all totally shocked...most of the time it snows already at this time of the year LOL

[SAFINNO1]

Great news for GB Tennis fans.

Murray & Rusedski announce clash

Andy Murray and Greg Rusedski will clash in a Scotland versus England challenge in Aberdeen in November.
The inaugural Aberdeen Cup will be played over 26-27 November and will take a Davis Cup-style format.

"To play for a Scotland team on my home turf against an England team containing the likes of Greg Rusedski is a great opportunity," said Murray.

Rusedski said: "There's always an extra edge when England face Scotland and I'm sure that this will be no exception."

Joining Murray in the Scotland line-up will be his older brother Jamie and current British women's number one Elena Baltacha, as well as a leading Scottish girl and boy from the Fred Perry Challenge.

Invited to play alongside Rusedski for England are David Sherwood and British women's number three Katie O'Brien, as well as a leading English girl and boy

[Annie]

that's good news ILY thanks ;D

[jewell]

I think he'll do well if he knuckles down and gets rid of the "everybody is against me" attitude.

[Annie]

that's very true...I got the impression he had that...he really should lighten up and enjoy himself more...oh well..good luck to Andy

[raghda]

Lol england n Scotland
I wana watch that

[jewell]

He has recently but before he was always on about how the press were on his back about his fitness. from what i've seen the press have been nothing but supportive of him. he's young though, he'll learn.

[Annie]

I am sure jewell..it's one of those boyish panic attacks of "why noone loves me", many sportsmen have been through that at that age but they learn eventually....well most of them do

[maryb]

Made me laugh seeing Andy on Scottish television talking about the forthcoming Scotland v England matches. ;D You just want to give him a hug and say 'Relax pet, lighten up. Have a beer. You've got your whole career in front of you. It's early days yet'.

I don't believe for a minute that anyone is against him at all - the press has been overly supportive (maybe that's the problem) - and I don't think he really sees it that way either, although it can sometimes comes across that way from his manner (remember what I said guys about Scots having the chips on both shoulders). I agree that it's probably his age - he probably finds it difficult at this stage in his career to have all these plaudits heaped on him, and he's probably quite scared if he doesn't live up to them that the media will turn against him. He's looking at Henman's bad press and jumping the gun here (how can it be bad when you're in the top ten for about a decade ...). He's a determined young guy and he won't take any of his failings lightly over the years.

I only hope that he's not going to be his own worst enemy and punish himself on every loss - you see it when he's playing and he starts to get mad at every point he loses.

Now who does that remind you of ... ?

PS Annie - the sun came out today in Scotland! Aaaargh. Too late for me though. My hall ceiling is now coming in - the rain got in the roof space and I now have to replace half the ceiling. On the bright side, a lot of people have had their homes and businesses flooded. Apparently we've had the whole of October's rainfall in 12 hours. Who said global warming was a fallacy? Enjoy the sun in Moscow ... you're right. it'll probably be snowing next week.

[Annie]

It started raining today...bad bad sign...LOL

[jappsie]

My friend and I were rooting for Andy during the Thailand Open. We badly wanted him to win the title but...well, surprise! Federer of course, bagged another one under his belt.

That kid has a great future in tennis. And he's super nice! Signed autographs for everybody. As in not leaving the court until he had signed every single ball and paper that were thrusted in front of him. Even if it's obvious that he's ready to plop down any minute.
My friend and I were like gushing all the time...with no malice of course LOL! We develop instant admiration for players who are nice to their fans, and Andy is a new discovery. Hope he does real well in his future matches.
Even if he didn't win, I'm sure he gave Roger a scare during that finals match in Thailand. We weren't Scots, but we're cheering him on like we were

[maryb]

I seem to remember reading that he'd approached somebody when he was a kid - think it might have been Agassi - and he didn't get an autograph after hanging around the court for hours. He was pretty crushed about it and vowed that he would try to sign as many autographs as he could if he rose up the rankings. Awww, sweet.

Only hope that as he moves up the ladder, he realises that he may not be able to sign every autograph when asked - but I don't doubt he'll do his best!

Thought it was hysterical at Wimbledon that he held up Serena Williams on her match on Court 2 when he stopped so long to sign autographs. She was not amused. I think if I'd been in Andy's shoes, I wouldn't have messed with her. She's pretty scary ... More intimidating than Roger, I'd say ;D

She's built like a brick privvy as we'd say here in Scotland.

[Annie]

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/default.stm#

Here's a video of Andy here from the bbc.co.uk

[Annie]

Murray a breath of fresh air for British tennis- Rusedski
2005-10-18 13:49:32 GMT (Reuters)

MADRID, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The emergence of teenager Andrew Murray has been a breath of fresh air for British tennis, according to Greg Rusedski who tipped the young Scot to break into the elite rankings in the near future.

"It's great to finally have someone to follow myself and Tim (Henman) after all these years," the 32-year-old said after his 6-7 7-6 7-6 defeat by big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic in the first round of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday.

"He's a good kid and will be up in the top echelon for some time to come. He's a good player and fights from the first point to the last, moves well from offence to defence and reads the game well."

But Rusedski said the 18-year-old from Dunblane would benefit from having someone else of his own age to challenge him on the home front.

"What we need now is to have someone behind Andy to help him out. Tim and I aren't going to be around for the next five to 10 years."

Murray, who lost to world number one Roger Federer in the final of the Thailand Open earlier this month, is ranked 71 in the world in his first year as a professional and became Britain's youngest ever Davis Cup player when he made his debut against Israel in March.

Rusedski also paid tribute to Murray's refreshing approach to life off the court.

"He seems to enjoy the whole experience. He says it how it is and doesn't try and hide behind things. He quite enjoys the press side of things. I'm impressed.

"The future looks very bright and he's out there doing all the right things."

[SAFINNO1]

OMFG THIS NEWS IS UNBELIEVABLE. I CANT BELIEV IT.
COME ON ANDREW MURRAY

Henman set for first Murray clash

British number one Tim Henman will play rising star Andy Murray for the first time in round one of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors tournament on Tuesday.
Henman has dominated domestic tennis for years, but teenager Murray has made huge strides in 2005.

The Scot, who is returning to action after a hamstring injury, lasted longer than Henman at Wimbledon.

And he got to the final of the Thailand Open earlier this month before losing to world number one Roger Federer.

Murray, ranked 70th in the world, was given a wildcard for the tournament, while Henman, ranked 26, is a two-time champion in Basel.

The pair have never faced each other in a competitive senior event, but have practised together.

"It's not going to be an easy match for either of us - it never is when you come up against somebody from the same country," Henman told his website.

"But I've managed to handle similar situations pretty well in the past when I've come up against Greg Rusedski, so I know what to expect.

"While there will obviously be bragging rights up for grabs it¿s still only a first round match so it¿s important to keep things in perspective."

Henman confirmed that he was familiar with Murray's game.

"We practised back home in London last week and we've also practised together out here, so we get on well and we know how each other plays," he said.

"I actually had a funny feeling that we would play each other this week, but when I mentioned it at dinner the other night everybody just laughed it off.

Fellow Briton Alan Mackin is also in the main draw in Basel as a lucky loser, replacing Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

He will play Marcos Bagdati in the first round.