The first round draw for the Mens Singles at Wimbledon has presented Sheffields Jonny Marray with a big hurdle in the diminuitive shape of Sebastien Grosjean.
The 59" Frenchman from Marseille has an impressive pedigree at Wimbledon-twice before (2003, 2004) reaching the semi-finals.
He is currently ranked No.66 in the world but has been as high as No.4 back in 2002.
Grosjean also has an impressive pedigree on grass. The first of his three ATP titles was won on the grass of Nottingham in 2002, and he is well remembered for ending Tim Henmans Wimbledon campaign at the quarter-final stage in 2003.
Reflecting on the draw, Marray was in no doubt about the size of the task ahead: "I am going to have to play very well to win.
"The draw could have been worse, but hes still a very difficult customer on grass. Its an exciting, high profile draw, a well-known name, and a great scalp for me if I can win it, but nonetheless a very tough encounter. "
The draw could have been worse, but hes still a very difficult customer on grass.
Jonny Marray
Should Marray go through, he would meet No.28 seed Robin Soderling in the second round, with Spanish icon Raphael Nadal waiting in the third.
Marray will be wearing Canterbury clothing and using a Slazenger racket as he takes on the Frenchman, and is grateful to both companies for their support.
"It is difficult to fund yourself through the lean times, and I am extremely grateful to my sponsors for their kind support."
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Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive.... those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience
LOL I think the real culprit here is someone we know rather well ... a certain sharp big cat.
They've copied his article from www.jonnymarray.net virtually verbatim, including the mis-spelling of diminutive and Toby's permanent mis-spelling of Nadal's first name.
However, they've changed the "let's forget Olly Rochus" (after all, he's even smaller than Seba!) bit slightly. Toby's version says "he would be seeded to meet Number 28 seed Robin Soderling in the second round", which the LTA have changed to "he would meet". I guess their editor thought "seeded to meet" implies Jonny himself is seeded when he isn't and changed it without realising that his amended version was even more misleading.
I'll go and correct them on the jm site, nothing I can do about the LTA though.
I'n the LTA's (and Toby's) defence, it's a lot better than not having any article at all!
-- Edited by steven at 16:58, 2007-06-23
-- Edited by steven at 17:03, 2007-06-23
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!