Andy Murray 2012

[Daniel 7]

Nice one Boots, watching it now!

[Buzzo]

He's very humble. And it is interesting to hear an insight into the determination he has had through out his life to get to where he is. No fast tracking here, just hard work, dedication and natural talent. It is also revealing how well he works with Lendl, and the massive changes they have made to his game and mentality.

I think he has become a bit of a hero of mine this year. It is amazing what he has achieved, the magnitude has not quite sunk in yet. Its going to be brilliant watching him knowing he has now won a slam, and just really enjoying his tennis and seeing where he can take it now.

[Shaggy]

Weird isn't it. I'm a proper fan of his. An actual fan

[Neil Young]

Wiggins

[Reece]

I love it when he wins, love it.

[Shaggy]

Wiggins

I love it when he wins, love it.

[Buzzo]

Weird isn't it. I'm a proper fan of his. An actual fan

I was trying to think what word to use, and it just struck me he was now a bit of a hero for me (same as Kenny was back in the day) I've watched Tennis for as long as I have football really - and seeing him win was a really big moment I felt really proud of him.

You get some sense of the pressure he must have been under when he says the first emotion he felt after winning the US Open was relief... I hope he wins another - just so he can revel in it a bit.

Being a fan of a Tennis player........ having a 25 year old as a hero........

Its a strange new world

He's just totally amazing, and I can't wait for the Aus Open

[mick the click]

I was trying to think what word to use, and it just struck me he was now a bit of a hero for me (same as Kenny was back in the day) I've watched Tennis for as long as I have football really - and seeing him win was a really big moment I felt really proud of him.

You get some sense of the pressure he must have been under when he says the first emotion he felt after winning the US Open was relief... I hope he wins another - just so he can revel in it a bit.

Being a fan of a Tennis player........ having a 25 year old as a hero........

Its a strange new world

He's just totally amazing, and I can't wait for the Aus Open

I could almost have written that myself!

What I take my hat off to him for most of all is that he's done it his own way. Yes he's had £££ help from parents, but he's stayed outside the British system - which is said to have ruined more players that it's helped.

I was told by a coach to keep an eye on him when he was 17/18 or so, that he might have some potential and I've watched him since.

I'm in awe of modern tennis players in general - particularly the top 10; their workload is unremitting, immense.

And to make money at tennis, to at least make a living, you have to be in the top 100.

I think he'll win more slams. If I was a betting person I'd put money on it, but I gave up gambling after the Wimbledon FA Cup final...

[Buzzo]

I could almost have written that myself!

What I take my hat off to him for most of all is that he's done it his own way. Yes he's had £££ help from parents, but he's stayed outside the British system - which is said to have ruined more players that it's helped.

I was told by a coach to keep an eye on him when he was 17/18 or so, that he might have some potential and I've watched him since.

I'm in awe of modern tennis players in general - particularly the top 10; their workload is unremitting, immense.

And to make money at tennis, to at least make a living, you have to be in the top 100.

I think he'll win more slams. If I was a betting person I'd put money on it, but I gave up gambling after the Wimbledon FA Cup final...

It does seem his move to the Spanish academy was pivotal in his development. The mad thing is that he realised this himself at such a young age.

I read an interview which said that when he first met Nadal they were about 10, and Nadal was telling Murray that he used to practice against some Spanish World Top 10 players, and Murray realised that he only ever got to play against decent county players in the UK.

At that moment he realised that Nadal had an edge, and that he couldn't hope to compete if things stayed as they were...

In a world where kids think everything is attainable quickly and easily through Britain's Got Talent or Xfactor it makes you appreciate that there is actually only one way to achieve true excellence and that is through having a natural talent and the desire to apply years of dedication and hard work.

[Neil Young]

It does seem his move to the Spanish academy was pivotal in his development. The mad thing is that he realised this himself at such a young age.

I read an interview which said that when he first met Nadal they were about 10, and Nadal was telling Murray that he used to practice against some Spanish World Top 10 players, and Murray realised that he only ever got to play against decent county players in the UK.

At that moment he realised that Nadal had an edge, and that he couldn't hope to compete if things stayed as they were...

In a world where kids think everything is attainable quickly and easily through Britain's Got Talent or Xfactor it makes you appreciate that there is actually only one way to achieve true excellence and that is through having a natural talent and the desire to apply years of dedication and hard work.

As I said, Wiggins.

[Buzzo]

As I said, Wiggins.

I guess they are similar his achievement was huge also but I don't know anything about cycling, and surely he can get his own thread

[Neil Young]

Yeah, I'll stop now.

The parallels are pretty clear - Spain for Murray, France for Wiggins, etc. Although I'd say Wiggins' achievements are greater than Murray's, given the UK's cycling culture until recently and the fact he's done something no Brton has ever done, and achieved things this year that no cyclist anywhere has ever done before.

I agree Murray's work ethic is impressive but it's nothing special for any Olympic gold medallist, we saw that in the summer. I suppose unlike many other successful Team GBers he could have taken it easy and earned a good living but he's ambitious enough to want more than that. Unlike so many bloody footballers.

As for the role model for kids, yeah, Murray's a good one but no different to many others (including Wiggins). That's not a criticism of him and it's not an attempt to belittle his achievements either.

Talent and hard work are vital, but you get further with only the latter than with only the former.

[Buzzo]

Yeah, I'll stop now.

The parallels are pretty clear - Spain for Murray, France for Wiggins, etc. Although I'd say Wiggins' achievements are greater than Murray's, given the UK's cycling culture until recently and the fact he's done something no Brton has ever done, and achieved things this year that no cyclist anywhere has ever done before.

I agree Murray's work ethic is impressive but it's nothing special for any Olympic gold medallist, we saw that in the summer. I suppose unlike many other successful Team GBers he could have taken it easy and earned a good living but he's ambitious enough to want more than that. Unlike so many bloody footballers.

As for the role model for kids, yeah, Murray's a good one but no different to many others (including Wiggins). That's not a criticism of him and it's not an attempt to belittle his achievements either.

Talent and hard work are vital, but you get further with only the latter than with only the former.

It's certainly good that there are a few different sports around with genuinely inspiring athletes involved.

Hopefully one day football can drag itself out of the gutter and we can be proud of it again, but I can't see that happening for some time yet.

[Neil Young]

After all my attempts at derailing this thread, I should probably state categorically that I think Murray's achievements in the last three months have been spectacular, although I'm not that surprised as I always thought he had a decent chance of winning a slam (and gold, at "home"). I've always said he's miles better mentally than Tim "Balsa Wood" Henman.

Football is probably a lost cause. Although I did think today, apropos of nothing specific, that maybe all professional sport will follow it down the sewer in time. Money has ruined football. And now there's so much money in other sports too...

[mick the click]

Yeah, I'll stop now.

The parallels are pretty clear - Spain for Murray, France for Wiggins, etc. Although I'd say Wiggins' achievements are greater than Murray's, given the UK's cycling culture until recently and the fact he's done something no Brton has ever done, and achieved things this year that no cyclist anywhere has ever done before.

I agree Murray's work ethic is impressive but it's nothing special for any Olympic gold medallist, we saw that in the summer. I suppose unlike many other successful Team GBers he could have taken it easy and earned a good living but he's ambitious enough to want more than that. Unlike so many bloody footballers.

As for the role model for kids, yeah, Murray's a good one but no different to many others (including Wiggins). That's not a criticism of him and it's not an attempt to belittle his achievements either.

Talent and hard work are vital, but you get further with only the latter than with only the former.

Oooooh - dunno about that...you'd never find AM sucking a ciggy and getting pissed on hols...