What a fabulous return to tennis, for Andy Murray.

Scratch pair of doubles,with Feliciano Lopez. Knock out number 1 seeds, in opening round, then number 3. Each match they get better and scrape home in a 'Champions Tie Break'.

Lopez also wins the singles, aged 37.

Great to see a champion return, pain free, afrerc2 years of agony and an 'almost certain', career end, in Australia.

Brilliant. Crowd stayed until the end.
Sadly, BBC failed to acknowledge another Brit, Joel Salisbury, who was excellent, on the other team. They cut out his interview and went to next prog.

Crikey. Didnt even know Wimbledon had started

Didn't they move it to Milton Keynes?

Tennis is a ladies' game

Well done, Mr Murray's hip resurfacing surgery team - and Andy Murray for working hard to get back to "match" fitness.

And, who say's Steven Defour won't be "like a new signing" for Burnley this season.

Just had to check that he was indeed a sir. Seems like they gave knighoods out for anything these days.
One of the benefits of Scottish independence will be getting also rans like him off the honours list I suppose

Damo wrote:Just had to check that he was indeed a sir. Seems like they gave knighoods out for anything these days.
One of the benefits of Scottish independence will be getting also rans like him off the honours list I suppose

He's a lot more worthy than the politicians that seem to get it simply for being popular in their governing party.

He survived a school massacre to became two-time Wimbledon champion. Can't think of many sportsmen or women more deserving.

Imploding Turtle wrote:He's a lot more worthy than the politicians that seem to get it simply for being popular in their governing party.

He survived a school massacre to became two-time Wimbledon champion. Can't think of many sportsmen or women more deserving.

Andy Payton gets my vote

Like him or not, he is probably in the top five British sportsmen of all time. To come back from those surgeries and win in doubles at basically his first attempt is an unbelievable achievement...

Guich wrote:Andy Payton gets my vote

Yeah you don't see enough masters of the golf club getting a knighthood.

Imploding Turtle wrote:He's a lot more worthy than the politicians that seem to get it simply for being popular in their governing party.

He survived a school massacre to became two-time Wimbledon champion. Can't think of many sportsmen or women more deserving.

No bias at all in your comments IT. Its not like you and Andy Pandy are both Jocks is it ?

Damo wrote:Just had to check that he was indeed a sir. Seems like they gave knighoods out for anything these days.
One of the benefits of Scottish independence will be getting also rans like him off the honours list I suppose

QE1 will still be Queen of Scotland!

As for the content, it only reveals your own worth.

FCBurnley wrote:No bias at all in your comments IT. Its not like you and Andy Pandy are both Jocks is it ?

I know it's a foreign concept to you but I'm quite capable of identifying my own biases and then excluding to form objective opinions.
And being Scottish isn't much of a bias since i'm not irrationally proud of my nationality.

One of the best sportsman the UK has ever produced so deserves his knighthood.

"Crikey. Didn't even know Wimbledon had started"

Bit early always starts around tennish

Well done Lopez carrying Murray. Mother Murray will be delighted

Given that he has accepted a Knighthood you have got to wonder what dark awful secrets he has hidden in his closet. No doubt we will find out in 5/10/20 years time.

Some folk, on here, must lead very warped lives.

IanMcL wrote:QE1 will still be Queen of Scotland!

As for the content, it only reveals your own worth.

Not QE1 but maybe QE2, but isn't the reality that the present monarch is not Queen of England Scotland Wales and NI, doesn't history make our Monarch first and foremost the Sovereign of Scotland followed by England Wales and the NI?

IanMcL wrote:Some folk, on here, must lead very warped lives.

Would you like to unburden yourself. They say a problem shared etc etc....

Guich wrote:Tennis is a ladies' game

Is it? I'd love to see many of our 'top' professional footballers play at that level for 2/3/4 hours or more. And then in many cases having to do it all again the day after. Footballers can't play 3 hours a week it seems without having to be 'rested'. Tennis (along with pro cycling) ranks among the toughest of sports for fitness.

houseboy wrote:Is it? I'd love to see many of our 'top' professional footballers play at that level for 2/3/4 hours or more. And then in many cases having to do it all again the day after. Footballers can't play 3 hours a week it seems without having to be 'rested'. Tennis (along with pro cycling) ranks among the toughest of sports for fitness.

Spot on hb,Lopez played a gruelling 3 hour singles final and then had to be on court again just half an hour later for the doubles and all at the age of 37,Federer is still going strong at the same age,i remember some matches at Wimbledon last year lasting 5/6 hours,and most of this time the players are unaided by their coaches/physios,how on earth do they manage it,well some of them don't ,hence the amount of injuries/retirements at a relatively tender age.

I hope Andy can return to the top in the singles,but there must be major doubts i'm afraid,however it's possible a new career in doubles awaits.

Imploding Turtle wrote:I know it's a foreign concept to you but I'm quite capable of identifying my own biases and then excluding to form objective opinions.
And being Scottish isn't much of a bias since i'm not irrationally proud of my nationality.

If you start claiming that The Proclaimers and Jimmy Krankie should be knighted, then I’ll know you’re lying.

Never ever got the bitterness (or probably jealousy) against Andy Murray.
Tennis is a worldwide sport - one of the most participated and watched sports in the world - hence the amount of prize money, advertising etc it generates.
It’s not the favourite sport of many people in this country but plenty do enjoy playing and watching.
Andy Murray is by a distance the most successful British tennis player in many years - arguably ever if you bear in mind the era Fred Perry played in.
Murray has achieved his success during arguably the strongest period in men’s tennis in history having to compete against 3 of of the best players ever (Federer is THE best player ever).
This is why many people regard him as the best ever British sportsman - doesn’t mean that us Burnley fans like him better than Robbie Blake - but anyone who knows anything about sport should be able to recognise that Murray is pretty special and it’s unlikely we’ll see another player like him from the UK in most of our lifetimes.

mdd2 wrote:Not QE1 but maybe QE2, but isn't the reality that the present monarch is not Queen of England Scotland Wales and NI, doesn't history make our Monarch first and foremost the Sovereign of Scotland followed by England Wales and the NI?

Two thrones being aligned, under a Stuart banner, is perhaps an argument of seniority, however, it does also remind us all that there are two Royal Crowns, one of Scotland and that of England.

If the Scottish crown was to be worn, by Queen Elizabeth, as part of an independent nation, the it would be worn by Quern Elizabeth I of Scotland.

Three Grand Slams, 14 Masters Titles (4th here in winners list of what's widely touted as the unofficial Slams), two Olympic Golds and 20 odd other ATP titles, all won in an era where the greatest player to have ever played, alongside two others who are seriously pushing him for that claim, are still on tour.

They do probably give Honours a bit willynilly now, but Andy has done enough to earn one in any era.
The greatest tennis player Britain has ever. And up amongst the greatest of all our sporting icons.
He's also done it being a seemingly decent and down to earth bloke too.

Buxtonclaret wrote:Three Grand Slams, 14 Masters Titles (4th here in winners list of what's widely touted as the unofficial Slams), two Olympic Golds and 20 odd other ATP titles, all won in an era where the greatest player to have ever played, alongside two others who are seriously pushing him for that claim, are still on tour.

They do probably give Honours a bit willynilly now, but Andy has done enough to earn one in any era.
The greatest tennis player Britain has ever. And up amongst the greatest of all our sporting icons.
He's also done it being a seemingly decent and down to earth bloke too.

It's honestly insane how good he is/was. He played in the era of Federer, Djokovic and Nadal who are #1, #2 and #3 all-time greatest players as far as i'm concertned (in that order) and at times was better than them all.

11 grand slam finals. He only ever lost to either Federer or Djokovic.

10 Grand slam semi finals on top of those 11 finals, and of those 10 he only lost to someone other than Nadal or Djokovic twice. (Roddick, Wimbledon 2008, Wawrinka, French Open 2017)

That's 16 grand slams where it took one of the three greatest ever players to stop him from winning it. Just imagine how many he'd have won if he was lucky enough to play in Sampras's era instead.

He's easily one of the ten greatest to ever play the game when you account for the era and relative competitiveness of those eras. I have him as 6th behind Borg and Sampras.

I'd probably add Conners to Borg & Sampras there, Turtle. There's also that Aussie guy.
But know what you mean.
He's certainly up in the highest tiers of men's open tennis.

Given the difference between amateur tennis, early professionals, technology, nutrition and coaching, the top players of the Murray era have all achieved greatness in the game and world sport, in general.

On a personal level, Sir Andrew has helped his home town hugely and encouraged many new Brit players, by inviting them to his Miami facility.

All round good guy - just ask the other pros.

Buxtonclaret wrote:Three Grand Slams, 14 Masters Titles (4th here in winners list of what's widely touted as the unofficial Slams), two Olympic Golds and 20 odd other ATP titles, all won in an era where the greatest player to have ever played, alongside two others who are seriously pushing him for that claim, are still on tour.

They do probably give Honours a bit willynilly now, but Andy has done enough to earn one in any era.
The greatest tennis player Britain has ever. And up amongst the greatest of all our sporting icons.
He's also done it being a seemingly decent and down to earth bloke too.

You omitted the small matter of Britain's first Davis Cup win in good knows how many decades,OK he didn't win it all on his own,but his presence and talent must have played a major part.

tiger76 wrote:You omitted the small matter of Britain's first Davis Cup win in good knows how many decades,OK he didn't win it all on his own,but his presence and talent must have played a major part.

From memory it was pretty much 60% or more on his own. One thing for sure is Britain doesn’t win it without Murray.

Hibsclaret wrote:From memory it was pretty much 60% or more on his own. One thing for sure is Britain doesn’t win it without Murray.

Let's not forget that James Ward came back from 2 sets down to beat John Isner 15-13 in the 5th set. Without that they'd have lost in the first round.

Reading these glowing tributes it is quite sad he was humped all over the court yesterday

houseboy wrote:Is it? I'd love to see many of our 'top' professional footballers play at that level for 2/3/4 hours or more. And then in many cases having to do it all again the day after. Footballers can't play 3 hours a week it seems without having to be 'rested'. Tennis (along with pro cycling) ranks among the toughest of sports for fitness.

They have a sit down every 5 mins. Not my cup of tea - there's too many prima donna's amongst them.

Reality check at Eastbourne. Demonstrates that he has much work, still to do.

Keep going Sir A.

IanMcL wrote:Reality check at Eastbourne. Demonstrates that he has much work, still to do.

Keep going Sir A.

Weren’t they playing the worlds top seeds ?

thomaspaine wrote:They have a sit down every 5 mins. Not my cup of tea - there's too many prima donna's amongst them.

I find it hard to believe you would complain about too many prima donnas in tennis, while posting on a football forum.

thomaspaine wrote:They have a sit down every 5 mins. Not my cup of tea - there's too many prima donna's amongst them.

If you are refering to footballers I agree, Prima Donnas to a man in the PL. Feigning injury to get a rest and unable to play 2 games a week mostly. Half of them can't stand up in a slight breeze it seems.

dsr wrote:I find it hard to believe you would complain about too many prima donnas in tennis, while posting on a football forum.

I think he has failed to see the irony in his own post. Either that or he has a very subtle sense of humour.