Andy wins SPOTY

A1 tennis academy · Satellite level

RE: Andy wins SPOTY

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

He may have trailed all the way back here from Miami, interrupted his training and ruined his chances at the AO, and not won! What a waste of time and effort that would have been.

It's really a very meaningless trophy, anyway, in the grand scheme of things. Just read international tennis boards and see the reactions of non-Brits to this "competition". I wanted him to win it because I thought he was by far the most deserving of the candidates - but I wouldn't have cared much if he hadn't.

-- Edited by Madeline on Thursday 19th of December 2013 10:42:03 AM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

A1 tennis academy wrote:
chavkev wrote:
Why on earth would he have collected it in person? Getting more grand slams is his focus. There is plenty of time for trinkets and ass-kissing when he is retired.
Politeness & common courtesy something the British were once famous for !

That and not winning Wimbledon for 77 years. So glad he's broken the mould.

chavkev · Intermediate Club Player

In fairness A1, if I had been in his shoes I would have gone further and refused the nomination. SPOTY is the biggest and most pointless pile of rubbish in the sporting calendar. It is long needing to be scraped. I couldn't give a rat's behind about politeness personally. Sucking up to a bunch of sycophants on a cold Sunday evening in Leeds was probably not an overly attractive proposition to Andy and I don't blame him.

Spectator · All-time great

I'm all for politeness and common courtesy. But I don't think that not appearing to pick up the SPOTY trophy was an offense against either. The essence of politeness is a concern for others. Mr Murray has been very clear that he knows that people want him to win at tennis, and that he feels an obligation - sometimes an overwhelming one - not to let them down. It would, in the judgement of his team (and one doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to understand why), have adversely affected his potential for 2014 to have come over for the ceremony. It was, therefore, in both his own and the British public's best interest not to do so ... and therefore not a breach of etiquette at any level.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Well said, Spectator.

indiana · Tennis legend

I can only repeat what most folk have said here, It was no surprise at all that Andy decided to not turn up. He is absolutely consistent and dedicated to his planned training block and then consistently has a good Aussie Open.

As spectator said, there is no doubt that the award meant a heck of a lot to Andy. As he has said many times before and again on Sunday ( and one can also see this from such as his general tweets and boxing support ), he is very much an all round sports fan. Not only was he clearly emotional at the presentation, but in a Radio 5 Live follow up, John Inverdale spotted on a video link that he was closely looking over the enscribed names of all the previous winners. As he then said to Inverdale, it meant so much for him to have his name added to all these.

I do think SPOTY has a great place in the year, is widely respected and I look forward to it. But it is not so important that Andy should have so interrupted his pre season. Politeness and common courtesy ? What about respect and courtesy to his back up team, who give so much to making his close season a success, and in return Andy gives back his all to them. Also, as a big Andy supporter, I suspect that I am far from alone in being much more interested in him being fully dedicated to his pre season prep than flying back and forth for SPOTY. I absolutely loved that he won, I didn't really care and was fully understanding that he stayed in Miami.

Maybe many British were once best known for turning up to every back slapping event going, speeling out their thanks to a whole host of folk, and the audience and voters. Oh thank you, thank you, I couldn't get where I have without all your support.

All the thanks I needed was to see how much it did mean to Andy, and, more importantly still, to see that he was in no way letting up, but training as hard as ever prior to the new season. I see a man that doesn't rest on his laurels, and many others could take note.

It is a bit un- British to have someone in the tennis world that is just so dedicated and such a winner as Andy Murray. For that we should all be very thankful.

Jan · Hall of fame

Well said, one and all!!

philwrig · Hall of fame

Love the SPOTY, would have loved it if he had of turned up, but also totally respect his decision at the same time not to turn up. Thought he came across well direct from Miami anyway, showed loads of emotions and no doubt gained many new fans etc., etc.,

Salmon · Tennis legend

chavkev wrote:
In fairness A1, if I had been in his shoes I would have gone further and refused the nomination. SPOTY is the biggest and most pointless pile of rubbish in the sporting calendar. It is long needing to be scraped. I couldn't give a rat's behind about politeness personally. Sucking up to a bunch of sycophants on a cold Sunday evening in Leeds was probably not an overly attractive proposition to Andy and I don't blame him.

Nail. Head.