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.

英國首相卡梅倫在唐寧街接見了溫網冠軍穆雷，并同出席了慶功會，卡梅倫提議給穆雷頒發騎士勛章。英國王室及社會名流紛紛表示祝賀！2013年溫布爾登網球網球公開賽奪冠，是自1936年弗雷德-佩里捧杯后77年來首位在溫網奪冠的英國人，這也是穆雷去年美網之后的第2個大滿貫冠軍，職業 生涯的第28個單打冠軍。

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.