Wimbledon Murray Has Tea At No 10

As the prime minister says Murray deserves a knighthood, the new champion tells Sky News of his relief at winning Wimbledon.

英国首相卡梅伦在唐宁街接见了温网冠军穆雷，并同出席了庆功会，卡梅伦提议给穆雷颁发骑士勋章。英国王室及社会名流纷纷表示祝贺！2013年温布尔登网球网球公开赛夺冠，是自1936年弗雷德-佩里捧杯后77年来首位在温网夺冠的英国人，这也是穆雷去年美网之后的第2个大满贯冠军，职业 生涯的第28个单打冠军。

The day after the gold afternoon before, a tea at Downing Street for Britain’s new Wimbledon champion with the man who may recommend him for a knighthood.

This was the moment that changes the Scots’ life for ever. But will it change British tennis for the better? Murray is the role model the game has been desperate for, raising smiles from the all England Clubs all the way to Lamberts.

“The best thing about Andy Murray, he inspires people to play tennis and do different sports.”

“How about you?”

“How he shows us how we can reach for our goals which we just believe.”

“He has, he has good service.”

But he knows that it would take more than one success to transform years of underperformance.

“Sorry. But that isn’t my job. There are people, you know, have to put things in place to give kids opportunity to play and, you know, I hope yesterday has done a small part towards achieving, you know, better results for British players in the future.”

The Scot is an exception other than a rule. Develop his talent outside the system that does not match to his huge income with consistent results.

Andy Murray’s Wimbledon victory ended the longest losing streak in British sport. Challenge now for British tennis, he is to capture the excitement generated by his win and create opportunities in places like this, beyond the sports middle-class roots.

In 2012, the Lawn Tennis Association received £37.7 M from Wimbledon profits, and £5.4 M in public funding from Sport England. But participation among over 16 has fallen 15% in the last five years. Sport England has threatened to cut funding by 20% in future years.

“The job really is to make sure that not just for the two weeks of Wimbledon but everyone stays on the tennis court. That comes to people that he rather volunteers. The tennis schools are opened on. The country inspires the kids to stay in the game all years around. And that’s the next stage for us.”

Everyone that’s lifted by Murray’s triumph will hope they are right. But the next British Wimbledon champion doesn’t have to wait until the current one be immortalized in bronze.

Paul Kelsey, Sky News.