Most of Britain will eye Murray in Wimbledon bid

Associated Press

WIMBLEDON, England

The Brits know how to stage a coronation, and they’ll do so today for either regal Roger Federer or one of their own, Andy Murray.

Queen Elizabeth II has another commitment, but the former Kate Middleton and the British prime minister will be on hand to see who reigns at Wimbledon.

Plenty of history will be written in the men’s final at tennis’ most tradition-rich tournament. Federer can add to his record 16 Grand Slam championships, and he would tie a record by winning Wimbledon for a seventh time. He also would claim the ATP’s top ranking for the first time since June 2010, and match Pete Sampras’ record of 286 weeks at No. 1.

“There’s a lot on the line for me,” Federer said.

Murray, meanwhile, is merely trying to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since Fred Perry took Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in 1936.

“It has been a great tournament so far,” Murray said. “I’ve just got to try to keep it together for the final.”

Britain’s abuzz. Even without the queen, the Royal Box is certain to be packed, along with the rest of Centre Court. Tickets are going for more than 2,600 pounds ($4,000). Thousands have bought 8-pound ($12.40) grounds passes to picnic near Wimbledon’s practice courts on the grassy hill known these days as Murray Mount, watching the match on a huge video screen.

Loyalties will be divided. Brits love Federer, the celebrated Swiss whose graceful game is so well suited to the All England Club. He’ll receive sentimental support because he has endured a reign delay, going 2 1/2 years without a major title while being eclipsed by Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Now, at 30, he could become the first thirtysomething man to win Wimbledon since Arthur Ashe in 1975.

Allegiance for the stolid Murray is more a matter of geography, and even then it’s complicated. He’s a native of Scotland, where there’s a campaign afoot to break away from Britain. Whenever Murray loses, the English tend to call him Scottish, not British.

But for the moment, when it comes to lawn tennis, the United Kingdom is united.

Brits invented the game and, in 1877, started Wimbledon. They’ve won the men’s title 35 times, more than any other country, but not since before World War II. And no British woman has won Wimbledon since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Londoners have accepted the championship drought with good humor, especially where Murray is concerned. Waitresses at restaurants in Wimbledon village roll their eyes at the mention of his name. Last Sunday at the village’s Emmanuel Church, when the pastor noted from the pulpit that Brits are rooting for Murray, the congregation responded with groans and giggles.

It doesn’t help that he has been beaten in the semifinals each of the past three years, nor that he has lost every set in his three Grand Slam finals, including against Federer at the 2008 U.S. Open and 2010 Australian Open.