What Andy Murray said was the ‘problem’ with British tennis fans’ expectations after winning Queen’s for the first time

Follow us on Google Discover

In 2016, Andy Murray became the all-time leader in Queen’s titles, after securing a record-fifth crown at the tournament.

Murray defeated Milos Raonic in the final to achieve the feat, and went on to beat the Canadian again in the Wimbledon final later that summer.

The Briton’s fifth victory in West London was his last, and came seven years after he won his very first title at Queen’s.

In 2009, Murray overcame former world number four James Blake in straight sets to clinch a maiden championship at the event.

Following his triumph, he was asked about his expectations heading into Wimbledon that year, which the three-time Grand Slam champion gave an interesting answer to.

What Andy Murray said was the ‘problem’ with British tennis fans’ expectations

In his post-match press conference, Murray was asked if he believes he can go far at the All England Club after proving what he is capable of at Queen’s.

He responded: “I mean, it’s so easy, based on, you know, a few matches to just, you know, get ahead of yourself.

“That’s a problem I think that a lot of people have in this country, is sort of, you know, expecting huge things, thinking that it’s just going to happen.

“You know, I need to go out there and do it and make it happen. Any Grand Slams are going to be incredibly tough.

“For me, it might sound boring, and all sports people say it all the time, but I’m not looking or thinking about winning Wimbledon. I’m thinking about the match tomorrow and then preparing for the championships the best that I can.

“There’s no part of me that’s thinking about winning the Wimbledon title. I’m sure if I get close to doing it, it might cross my mind, but a very, very long way away from doing that just now.

It’s all a hype thing. And if you get caught up in it, then it becomes an issue. I’m not thinking about the Wimbledon final.

“When I get to Wimbledon, I won’t be thinking about the second week. I’ll be thinking about the first match.

“And the buildup is tough, because, you know, there are a lot of questions asked and you kind of get asked so many questions that it would be easy to start thinking ahead and letting the pressure and expectations get to you.

“But if you just stay focused on what your job is, once the tournament starts, that’s not a problem for me, the pressure and the expectation, because I expect a lot of myself.”

Andy Murray’s record of five titles at Queen’s from 2009 to 2016

Following his first Queen’s title, Murray went on to claim four more at the event in seven years, with his second coming in 2011, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.

After crashing out in the second round in 2012, he bounced back the next year and emerged victorious against former US Open champion Marin Cilic to hold the trophy aloft on Centre Court.

Murray went back-to-back in 2015 and 2016, becoming the first man to do so since Andy Roddick in 2005, when the American completed a three-peat.

Despite never returning to the final at the tournament for the rest of his career, the former world number one did enough in his prime years at Queen’s to have Centre Court named after him.