I was happy to get through my first-round match and (Wednesday) it's an off day. What I usually do on rest days is come to the courts around midday so that I can practice, see my physiotherapist and get off the grounds by 3. That way I have the evening just to relax. I'll watch some of the tennis on TV or some other programs. If I have time, I'll take my 14-month-old dog, Maggie, out for a walk. I'm not a recluse, but most I spend most of the off-site time at my house.
My mum's doing the cooking — mostly pasta and chicken, plain stuff that won't upset my stomach. You can't be too adventurous during big events like Wimbledon. If I were at any other tournament, I'd normally eat out. I like Italian and sushi. Yeah, I know, raw fish. It sounds risky. But I go only to quality places, and I've never had a problem. If you go to some dodgy ones, it might not be good.
I'm enjoying having all the guys I work with here in London — my coach, Miles Maclagan, my physio, Andy Ireland, and my fitness trainer, Matt Little. The trainer I use in the U.S., Jez Green, is even here just as a fan. Some people think I have a big entourage, but personally I don't think that amount of people is any different than what any of the other top players have.
I've been working with Miles since the end of 2007 and it's been a great fit. He's not my first coach, but at every stage of your career you need something different. Miles is very calm, relaxed and a hard worker. We talk things through. It's not like he's in my face and we don't have to spend every minute of every day together. I just want someone who's a calming influence that doesn't get too excited when things are going well and doesn't get too down when things are going badly. I think you need someone who's level headed.
I've heard that my new clothing line with Fred Perry has been described as "sheepish" compared to some of the other outfits making the rounds at Wimbledon such as Federer's military-style warm-up and Serena Williams' double-breasted trench coat. I think my outfits are pretty solid. They are not that far off what I would normally wear. OK, maybe they are a little bit old school.
***
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Let's get this straight: I don't see the mounting Murray Mania that everyone is talking about as something that can necessarily hurt me. In tennis it's rare to have hometown support; for me, just a couple of tournaments a year or in Davis Cup. It's nice being on court for a change where you feel everyone really wants you to win. For me it's always the best atmosphere, and it does make a difference in your performance. I know some players, for instance, are suspected of getting undone by nerves when they play in front of their home crowds, but that's an excuse to blame it on the crowd for not playing well. If it does make a difference, it's only a positive one. I see it as an advantage, like in team sports such as soccer and basketball. Tim Henman (a four-time Wimbledon semifinalist) played some of his best tennis here with the crowd at his back.
Of course, I understand the expectations and pressures. The last British man to win Wimbledon was Fred Perry in 1936. I won't go out of my way to pretend it's not there. You either deal with it or you don't. I'm not going to change the TV channel or avoid reading a newspaper if I see my face. My success is also becoming a bit of an education. When I won the grass-court tuneup at Queens this month, I had no idea who Henry "Bunny" Austin was. He was the last British winner — in 1938. I didn't know anything about him at all. I was surprised it was such a long time ago. I'm not that good on tennis history from way back, but I've followed it closely the last 6-7 years. Anything before then, I'm not that good on!
Obviously, I've improved my results at Wimbledon each of the last three years (third round, fourth round, quarterfinals), and I think I can do well if I play my best. I've done well here since the first time I played, even though I still think hardcourts are my best surface. The most important thing is not to get ahead of myself, especially with (Rafael) Nadal out of my half of the draw. It would be easy to think, 'Maybe I can get to the fourth round, the quarterfinals, and so on,' but the level and depth we have in tennis every match is so tough, including playing an American (Robert Kendrick) in the first round.
I love the atmosphere of Wimbledon village but I don't stay here. I'm in a place about 20 minutes away. In fact, I moved from an apartment to a house in Surrey last week. It sounds like a crazy thing to do on the eve of Wimbledon. But I'll be honest — I didn't do any of the heavy lifting, save for one bed and a sofa. I was focused on practicing, and then I took a little break at the end of last week to play golf and do a little go-kart racing.
I like go-karting, and I went with the guys I work with. It was a belated birthday present (May 15) since it was the only time we'd all be together. Go-karting helps get my mind away from competition and allows me to hang out with guys that aren't necessarily in tennis or talking about Wimbledon or asking questions about whether you're going to win it or not. It's just who crashed into whom. It was great fun, and nobody had any injuries.
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