Winner
I have to blog about Murray finally winning Wimbledon for Scotland after 77 years of waiting- this is a truly fantastic triumph for Britain. Many saying it has been the best play by a British sportsman in history.
This was the first year I was properly into the matches, I watched him play two semi-finals against Janowicz and another opponent at Lyric Square in Hammersmith. The first day at the square, hardly anyone was there, I sat in the deckchair in the sun and watched him play on the big screen.
The second day, I tuned in on my laptop a little late and was surprised to not see him playing after an hour he was supposed to be on the court. I went onto twitter and saw that the two men playing had been playing for 4 hours and a half- making this the longest semi-final match ever played. I headed up to the square at around 7pm and was shocked to see a mass of people crowding all around the deckchairs and sitting on the ground in front of the screen. Incredibly busy. So I had to sit on the ground! Wasn't very comfy.
Crowd at Lyric Square for the Semi-Final, Murray V Janowicz
His serves were phenomenal. Won many aces with no attempt at at a return from Jan. Jan was incredible, he was batting the ball with unbelievable strength and speed, even jumping to return the ball back across the court- he had so much energy and power. I was very surprised that Andy was able to play on par. Jan was very competitive as all tennis players are, but he reminds me of the boys in PE at school. Easily upset if he loses a point and very boyish. I think he's 6ft 8, beast of a man.
When it reached around 8pm, Murray was a set down but 2 games up. I was tweeting like crazy with support commenting he can always bring it back, he can still beat him. I remember Andy running back and forth all over the box, sprinting once for the ball and then flew into the chair beside the umpire knocking it over. And another time, he ran forward for the ball just over the net which left him standing bending over the net. Another time, he sprinted forward for the ball, passing it back, and slowed down ending at the other end of the pitch. Another highlight was the ballboy, as the ball was flying out of bounds, he just reached up and caught it which casued a round of applause from the audience at the stadium and where I was at at Lyric Square. After one long back and forth, they started playing so close to the net that the ball hit off Murrays back and then went into Jans court which counted and he won the point! BODY SHOT!
It went to tiebreak and Jan won the set. Set back but we can get back on track. Stayed very optimistic and kept my eyes peeled on the screen. Jan got 2 games up and one set up and I was starting to lose hope. Murray game through with a game of 3-1 but then Jan served and the ball flew like a fookin meteorite across the pitch. Not even a move from Murray, there was so chance of him returning. Andy did a backhand and turned a 360 then brought it up to 4-2 then 4-3. Times were tense! He dived for the next point and missed but what an effort! 5-4 then Murray wins the set.
Set 1-1
Jan strives ahead with 4-1, constantly just ahead of Andy but then Andy brings it right back when he starts to serve with 4-2, 4-3, 4-4.. MURRAYS BRINGING HIS A GAME!!
And then the body shot happened. Constant back and forth between the two brings so much tension, people are silent all in a dead stance watching the screen. 5-4.
The screen cuts to the umpire speaking to Andy whilst he's sitting. It's late, around 9pm and they've decided to call it a day and close the roof. Having a winning streak winning 5 games, Andy could have broken a record having continued play. He starts arguing with the guy, saying "it's no even dark, it's still light, why do we have to end this?!" whilst Janowicz looked like he was about to start crying.
The Final 7/7/2013
The Final. The match I had been waiting for. I messaged all my friends earlier trying to get some sort of congregation, I remember honestly brushing my teeth in the bathroom so excited and hyped to watch the game and I just had the feeling he was going to win.
I was running late but my friend texted me updates saying Andy's losing by a game. This didn't downheart me in the slightest, Andy always starts a little slow and loses the first few games but always brings it back.
Putting on a little something special
[Of course I had to do something a little special with my makeup on this day. Good to mix things up. I used my Chanel with a powder contour to elongate my face, no blush and a bright eye-popping pink limited edition MAC lip. My eyes I wanted to accentuate for once! I did not do my usual slanty eyeliner, I in fact applied none. I used my Benefit shimmery grey eyeshadow in a round shape around my eyes with a highlighter just below the brow and blended ie nicely. I applied a deep grey towards the outer crease and lashline. No black was applied but lashings of mascara. Oh and a wee pop of Bobbi Brown shimmer brick on my cheekbones!]
Boxpark Shoreditch
So I arrived with Sam to meet my friend Jane at Boxpark in Shoreditch. It was ridiculously hot weather of 28 degrees and clear skies so we looked for somewhere where there was shade, have to hand it to the boys for playing in the heat. The Boxpark was obviously not this bare, the benches were crowded with people, with a standing crowd to the left watching the screen. It was actually quite difficult to see where the ball was exactly, and Murray and Djokovick kept switching caps on and off so we were never sure who was who! I joined a fellow group of Scots which I was so happy about.
2-0 Jako, 4-2 Murray, then Murray wins the set. GET IN! The hope and excitement was overwhelming.
1-1, 2-1 Jako, 3-1 Jako, 4-1 Jako...
Shit. He's about to take this set. I did not want him to catch up and for them to go to 1-1 sets.
4-2 Murray, 4-3, 4-4, YES MURRAY, HE'S BRINGING HIS A GAME!
Only two points for him to win the game. Djokovich was getting very frustrated and angry whilst Andy was powering through with fantastic play. D had no more challenges left after Andy won an amazing point with such skill. He approached the umpire saying "oh come on etc etc not fair", he was disappointing himself.
Contstant back and forth, from very left to the very right and hitting over close to the net, Djokovich thought he had him but no Andy sores through the other side of the box and returns the ball with no chance of return. Watching the highlights there was two points in which Andy returned the ball from completely opposite corners of the box, right top and sprinting to left bottom- I think his speed has been his best asset in the game.
Andy was 2 sets up and Jako was at A and Murray was at 40. Andy brought him back down to 40-40 then it went back to A for Jako then back to 40-40 then for A For Murray. People were holding their breath and on the edge of their seats, I was shouting come on andy, just this point...
Andy serves, Jako returns, back to Jako, Andy returns then the ball hits the net then AHHHHHHHHH I STAND UP BATTIN MY HANDS TOGETHER SCREAMING FOR MY MAN, the crowd was going crazy, the atmosphere changed and it suddenly everyone was cheering and hugging, I hugged Sam and then Jane I was so overwhelmed, the screams from the audience at the court was phenomenal. Andy won with 3 sets, beating the worlds number 1. First time a guy won Wimbledon in 77 years. Andy threw is hat and his bat on the ground and went up into the stand to kiss his girlfriend and climbed over the box to hug his mother. The feeling that washed over Great Britain at that time was immense, no feeling like it.
I read later that Jako had nearly double the amount of faults he did, and I remember Andy missing a serve and Jako laughing at him. Uh. He was trying to put him off probably.
But to no avail, Andy Murray deserved to win. He played a tough few games but his serves were not always the fastest or the strongest but definitely the most skilled, at almost every match Andy won with around 10 Aces, his opponants not reaching even nearly that amount.
Congratulations Andy Murray, you did us proud.
xxx
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