One of my lasting memories of Andy - and this is a story I have told here before, albeit a long time ago - was that day in Belgium when he hit 'that' lob to win the Davis Cup. I was fortunate enough to be there that day. But the moment I am talking about was well away from the cameras and the spotlight and to frame it, this was shortly have John Lloyd (?) had made that comment about Andy needing to do more for GB tennis.
With the presentations over, the lights dimmed and the cameras off, almost everyone from the playing and support staff had left the arena. I have no doubt that Andy also had the urge to go and celebrate with his team mates. Nobody would have begrudged him if he had done so. But instead, he spent probably 45 minutes, walking around the GB crowd that were still in their seats, getting selfies with anyone who wanted it, including an excited expat from Spain. There was no fanfare, no media coverage, no tangible benefit for Andy, but he understood what it was like from a fans perspective and chose to share those moments with the people that took their time and their money to support him around the world.
No doubt, that Andy was as much a class act off the court as he was on it.
One of my lasting memories of Andy - and this is a story I have told here before, albeit a long time ago - was that day in Belgium when he hit 'that' lob to win the Davis Cup. I was fortunate enough to be there that day. But the moment I am talking about was well away from the cameras and the spotlight and to frame it, this was shortly have John Lloyd (?) had made that comment about Andy needing to do more for GB tennis.
With the presentations over, the lights dimmed and the cameras off, almost everyone from the playing and support staff had left the arena. I have no doubt that Andy also had the urge to go and celebrate with his team mates. Nobody would have begrudged him if he had done so. But instead, he spent probably 45 minutes, walking around the GB crowd that were still in their seats, getting selfies with anyone who wanted it, including an excited expat from Spain. There was no fanfare, no media coverage, no tangible benefit for Andy, but he understood what it was like from a fans perspective and chose to share those moments with the people that took their time and their money to support him around the world.
No doubt, that Andy was as much a class act off the court as he was on it.
I also remember the rest of the team rushing on as he lay on court after his winning lob vs Goffin and jumping on him.
He then picked himself up and headed straight for Goffin and the rest of Belgium team to commiserate wit them, I think before anyone else.