Interesting article from 'Scotland on Sunday', one of our two National Sunday broadsheets. There are also good ones on Andy and on Joanna Henderson, which I'll similarly try to copy and post, elsewhere.



Double-edged rewards: Jamie Murray on why he is relishing tennis and life in general

HE'S NOT a vain lad but Jamie Murray has earned the prerogative to be talking about himself.
For so long there was the suspicion that the elder of the Murray siblings was simply considered a source of information on Andy, a conduit to his thoughts and emotions. For him, there was always the nagging doubt that it was his brother people were interested in rather than him.

Now he is fine interview fodder in his own right the first of the brothers to win a Grand Slam title. The fact he did it while appealing to the base instincts of the superficially romantic reality-TV generation made it all the more newsworthy, with the pairing of Murray and Serbian Jelena Jankovic causing great interest. They insisted they were just friends, despite the promises of kisses for points and obvious on-court flirting. Even now, a year on, the Scot remains coy.

"We loved to play with each other," he says. Does he think that's the correct phraseology given the speculation? "Oh no," he laughs. "I will have to think of a different way to say that in future. I meant we enjoyed each other's company and I think that helped us play well because we were quite relaxed out there. That was what was so good about it. It meant that even in the final, on Centre Court, I didn't really feel nervous. It was just a lot of fun."

But, at 22, he is a young guy, enjoying his success. Whether it's the new-found fame, the ability to buy his own place near Wimbledon so he no longer has to bunk down at his brother's, or the extra invites he receives, he is making the most of it. The off-court highlight, he says without hesitation, has been his appearance on Question of Sport. But it is the on-court clout and added confidence it has given him which could be the greatest reward long-term.

Short-term, it furnishes him with greater self-belief going into Wimbledon than he may have had, given the way the first half of 2008 has failed to fully ignite for him and his latest men's doubles partner Max Mirnyi. The Beast, as the Belarus former world doubles No.1 is known, linked up with Murray towards the end of last year, but despite Mirnyi's record as a two-times doubles winner at Roland Garros, it has proved a tough clay-court campaign for the duo.

"Yeah, we have lost some matches we shouldn't have lost but we have been looking forward to the grass for a long time and I'm quite excited about Wimbledon," says Murray.

"It would be nice if it all came together here. I'm a Wimbledon champion. That's a great feeling. I had a great time winning the mixed last year and got through a few rounds of the men's doubles. Those two weeks will stay with me for the rest of my life. Even just getting to play on Centre Court at Wimbledon that's amazing in itself it's the most famous tennis court in the world."

It had all been a long time coming. Andy's story is of a lad who was always the best or thereabouts from the moment he finally beat his brother, at an under-12s tournament. For Jamie, it has been a bigger rollercoaster. A career bourne of tough decisions and some long periods of soul searching. He left the family home to board at one of the LTA tennis schools but his homesickness got the better of him and he returned to Scotland a sad lad. As his brother's career took off, his stuttered. He insists he was never jealous but there were moments when he didn't enjoy the sport.

"I guess, for a while, my tennis career wasn't that fantastic. I was playing singles and doubles and not doing that well, but then I took the decision to concentrate on the doubles and that has worked out much better for me and for the last 18 months I have been able to play the biggest tournaments and I'm having a lot more fun. I enjoy myself. I enjoy tennis and I enjoy the life I get to lead because of it."

Seen by some as the more open and warmer of the siblings, Jamie chose to eschew the humorous point-scoring they indulge in when it comes to each other, defending his brother. Fiercely loyal, he says it is easier for him to be himself because he is subjected to far less scrutiny. Earlier this year, he learned the hard way how off-the-cuff comments can be blown up into back pages headlines.

Only learning that Andy had withdrawn from Davis Cup action at the last minute, the news delivered by coach John Lloyd rather than his brother, he castigated him in a press brief. "I have learned from that but I said that because I was frustrated. Without him, we knew we had no chance of winning the tie. There was no point in being there. I still think he should have told me himself, but everything is fine now. We didn't speak for a while but he phoned me on my birthday. It's not an issue."

Loyal as well as proud. While as youngsters the pair delighted in battling for superiority in everything, the competitive streak does not cloud their supportive instincts. When Andy first bettered his brother at that under-12s tournament, he goaded Jamie so much, that he finally retaliated, hitting him so hard he damaged a nail on one finger. The minor disfigurement remains a reminder. But times have changed. There has been no gloating by Jamie about being the first to win a Grand Slam title. Andy, he says, was thrilled for him.

The brothers are ripped apart by nerves when watching the other play important matches, which is why, even if it gives their parents scheduling problems, they will be hoping they both stay involved at Wimbledon as long as possible, giving them something else to focus on.

There is no oppressive feeling that last year's feat has to be repeated though. With different partners in both events Jankovic is concentrating on the singles, so Murray will pair up with Liezel Huber, herself a Wimbledon doubles champion and "married, so there won't be any of the speculation we had last year. Well, I hope not, I don't think her husband would be too happy," jokes Murray it is a fresh challenge.

And for him, the fear is not letting down the British crowd, or himself he doesn't want to let down Mirnyi. With his impressive CV to come to terms with, Murray says the first months in the new partnership were daunting.

"I did wonder if he was too good for me or if he was watching me in practice or in games, thinking 'why am I playing with this guy?' I got over that, but when you play with someone like Max there are high standards you have to meet. He is so professional and has been in so many finals and I don't want to be the one stopping him getting back there, but he is great to work with and I have learned so much from him. It would be nice if things work out.

"We haven't done too well so far this year, but hopefully at Wimbedon we will do better on the grass (with] the home support. I don't feel that last year puts more pressure on us. I just want to play every match as well as we can and then see where that takes us. I guess more people will come to watch our games this year, hopefully. But that's not extra pressure, its more fun and it could help us. That's why we play tennis. We like to go out there and play in front of a lot of people and we all love an atmosphere and hopefully it will be like that at Wimbledon this year."

The Championships have already done so much for the player his self-belief, public image and credibility. If the tournament can get this season back on track it will simply galvanise its place in Murray's heart. Because, in truth, that was the true love-match of last year.

-- Edited by DJ at 11:09, 2008-06-25