As I type, Andy Murray is two sets up against Novak Djokovic and has broken the giant Croat's serve in the third set. Maybe, just maybe, Andy Murray is going to do what most of us thought was impossible - be British and win Wimbledon.
| The nets at the 'rec' in Bradmore were similar to this - just a bit worse |
I'd spend hours with my mates playing tennis 'up at the rec' (those living in Wolverhampton, or at least Penn, will know where I mean.) Simon Gupta and I would spend hours at the tatty-old council-owned courts. Jasper Carrot did a great sketch once where he makes reference to bottles of warm Vimto and cracks down the middle of the court where you could lose your tennis partner - well the 'rec' was a lot like that. The nets always seemed to be going through the menopause with an unfortunate sag around middle too.
Back in those days Andre Agassi, Goran Invanisevic and Pete Sampras were the kings of Wimbledon. For some reason I always wanted to be the American, Todd Martin. Looking back I have no idea why. Must have been because he was caggy handed like me.
The only British hope we had was Jeremy Bates who I think made it into the 3rd round one year and the country went Wimbledon-mad. Until of course he lost. Then it was 'Timbo' Henman. Not quite sure why, but something about Tim never really resonated with me as a kid from Wolverhampton. Then came the Canadian, sorry, British, Greg Rusedski. I'm still not sure whether we could have classed that as a British win if he'd ever got past round 5.Then of course came the young but dour Scot, Andy Murray. For years he's been a figure of fun - people assuming he was either never good enough or never had the bottle to succeed. Well, I guess that might be just about to change. Although, as I put the full-stop in place, Djokovic just broke Murray's serve. Is this blog too premature?
Either way, it'll be great to see Murray win Wimbledon. I only wish that I'd put Wimbledon down on my list of places to go before I was 30. I've been to Wembley, I'm off to Lords, I've already been to Silverstone, I couldn't care less about Twickenham - but I've always loved Wimbledon. Every year as a kid we'd go tennis mad for two weeks. I even missed half of the famous England vs Holland Euro '96 match because I was beating 'Guppy' at the rec.
Why didn't I put it down!! Oh well, there's still time - perhaps that'll become my number 31.
In other news, my quest to swim continues. I was up bright and early this morning, ready and raring to go for 8.30am. By 8.37 I wanted to go home. Same old frustrations, same old struggles. I think practice is the only thing I can do now and hope it clicks. Clive was in good spirits though - although he's got a blocked ear - but it's ok, he's having it syringed tomorrow.
My bid to watch 10 live gigs has also had a bit of a boost. Last week I saw Blondie (supported by the Lightening Seeds) at Cannock Chase and I've got tickets to see Beady Eye in October. I will indeed be 'top mad for it' that night.
Playing tennis at the 'rec' in the summer of '96 offers some great memories - even if this song doesn't. But it was number one for ages that summer, so here you go...
'C'mon Andy!'
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