New Balls, Please

Does Andrew Murray Have the Guts to Face English Expectation?

Everyone’s imbibed numerous glasses of Pimms, decided they want to pick up a racquet and start playing and all the British hopefuls have fallen by the wayside. Yes, we find ourselves mid-way through Wimbledon once more.

This year’s All England Club Championship - more than any other in recent years – has managed to show just how fickle (and cruel) the British sport-watching public are. Our habit of disregarding the sport for fifty weeks of the year, then, when June comes round, prattling on about the 'greatest Grandslam of all' and claiming to be experts on a bunch of players we first heard of in the newspaper supplement last weekend, is forgivable, perhaps even admirable. However, the criticism our British players receive can reach ridiculous proportions.

Henman bumbled toothlessly out in the second round, not even kindling the foolish expectations his perennial trip to the later stages usually generates. British interest was re-ignited as Andrew Murray, the eighteen-year-old Scot, was drafted in to take over the ageing Oxfordshireman’s mantle.

The British number one has been subject to more and more stick every year that he has failed to fulfil our hopes. Once we had discarded Jeremy Bates (remember him?) Henman was our new saviour, poised to win glory for the first time since Fred Perry in 1936. The public are nothing if not consistent. He has received remarkably similar treatment to the England football team – wildly inflated hopes, deteriorating into disappointment, sinking into bitter sniping. Fred Perry 1936 is to tennis what 1966 is to football. However, a football team can bring in a few new players or get a new manager and all is forgiven.

Tennis being an individual occupation, Henman hasn’t had the same opportunity.

Ten years ago the prospect of a Brit getting past the second round was enough but expectations have risen. Over the years, as Henman has improved and come closer to that elusive final, people have begun to pick apart his ability, temperament and personality.

Andrew Murray has it all to look forward to. He has a bright future but now, after only seven professional matches, the weight of the nation lies upon his shoulders. He’s got time to improve out of view of the expectant British public as nobody will watch any tennis until next June. This year everyone was very forgiving, excusing his defeat against former finalist Nalbadian, saying he did very well for a ‘young lad’ and that he lacked experience. Fair point. But it won’t be like that forever.

Hopefully one day, there will be more than one British contender at a time, so the pressure and expectation can be shared.

A Home for Shakespeare's Travelling Players

The Royal Shakespeare Company has confirmed it will hold its regular London season in one of the West End’s three Delfont Mackintosh-owned theatres for the next five years. The contract means that the RSC will have a permanent home in the capital for the first time since 2002 when they abandoned their Barbican base. Teir plays will be performed in the Novello Theatre (formerly The Strand Theatre) the Albery Theatre on St Martin’s Lane and the Gielgud Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Young, Free and a Single to Trafalgar Square, Please

Under 16s will travel free on London buses and trams from September, thanks to a new scheme initiated by Mayor Ken Livingstone. 14 to 16-year-olds will have to apply for an Oyster card in order to be included in the scheme. Children are being encouraged to apply for their cards as soon as possible. Anyone receiving a card before 1 August can use it immediately - giving an extra month's free travel.

City Reaches New Heights

Plans for a 1,008ft skyscraper in the City have been submitted to the Corporation of London. The Bishopsgate Tower would be the tallest building in the City, totally eclipsing the NatWest skyscraper (now Tower 42), which at 600ft currently holds the title.

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