PM’s tweets have zero bearing on my match: Murray

DPA/London

“Just back from a successful trip to Kazakhstan to hear the great news about @Andy_Murray,” Cameron tweeted on the eve of Murray’s comeback from two sets to love down over Fernando Verdasco.

“The sky over Downing St a little grey right now. Let’s hope it clears up for @Andy_Murray to win at #Wimbledon. Best of luck Andy,” read another pre-match tweet before Cameron delighted in the victory with “Wonderful to watch @Andy_Murray win with former Tory Chairmen at No10.”

Murray could care less what the political elite are thinking as he aims to snap a 77-year-drought for a British men’s winner at the Championships.

“What he tweets has absolutely zero bearing on the outcome of my match today - zero at all,” said the Scot, after setting up a semi-final with dangerous neophyte Jerzy Janowicz of Poland.

“It’s nice to get messages from the prime minister, but whether I win or not, his tweet has no bearing on that at all. That’s just people trying to make a story out of nothing.”

Murray has enough on his mind as he bears down on his grass-court mission. “I know if I had to finish my tennis career tomorrow, I’d be content that I won the US Open. But I also want to try and win more.  The fact I’m still playing, giving myself an opportunity to play in the latter stages of these events, I want to try to win them,” he said.

“The pressure’s still there. I put a lot of pressure on myself.”

Roddick’s confession

Less than a year after his sudden retirement from tennis, Andy Roddick is the first to admit that he misses Wimbledon.

The 30-year-old suffered his share of heartbreak on the lawns of the All England club, losing finals in 2004 and 2005 to Roger Federer as well as going out in 2009 to the seven-time champion Swiss.

Roddick confesses that the thrill of the tournament was addictive to him. And watching current matches on television only increases the nostalgia.

“Obviously seeing the matches played on grass and that atmosphere is a phenomenal thing, and you’ve got to be taking crazy pills to not have that affect you in some way, shape or form,” said the former number one. “It was a huge part of my existence, and it’s probably something that I’ll always miss.”

Roddick will try in some small way to re-create some tennis magic when he plays the brief Team Tennis season this month in the US. He will compete during a seventh season at the mixed hybrid event and has also made an investment in the league which runs only in July.

With no US man into the third round at this edition for the first time in more than a century, Roddick knows the former tennis power has to lift its future game.

“Wimbledon was disappointing, but I think Sam (Querrey), John (Isner), Ryan (Harrison), those guys will tell you the same,” Roddick said.

“I don’t think anyone is running from it. I think these guys know that they need to kind of step up and do it. Hopefully they’ll take that challenge head on.”