“England runs the oldest and most prestigious tournament in the world, Wimbledon. The people are traditionalists,” says Nick Bolletieri. “In order to be true to the tradition, the country needs a Grand Slam winner. Runner-up isn’t good enough."

Atlanta Tennis Championships

ANDY MURRAY BOWED HIS HEAD IN DEFEAT AND WIPED TEARS FROM HIS EYES. Typically stoic, the Scot struggled to maintain composure during the postmatch trophy ceremony in Melbourne, Australia.
  "I got great support back home over the last couple of weeks. Sorry I couldn't do it for you tonight but … he [Roger Federer] was a lot better than me tonight," Murray said. "Hopefully, one time I can come back and win here."

  The 2010 Australian Open marked Murray’s second Grand Slam final defeat — both to Roger Federer. Tennis coach Nick Bollettieri says he has seen this type of behavior before. He says Murray appeared strained and burdened with performance anxiety.

  Part of the growing buzz about the tournament comes from the lineup of star players who have committed to play in the 28-man main draw. Top 20 player John Isner is a Georgia favorite, as the native of Greensboro, N.C., anchored the University of Georgia team that won the 2008 NCAA championship. Isner won his first ATP tournament earlier this year in Brisbane.

  “England runs the oldest and most prestigious tournament in the world [Wimbledon]. The people are traditionalists,” says Bollettieri. “In order to be true to the tradition, the country needs a Grand Slam winner. Runner-up isn’t good enough.”

  Fred Perry was the last Brit to win a Grand Slam — more than 70 years ago! Arguably the greatest player to ever hail from England, Perry achieved success at all four Majors. He won a total of eight Grand Slam titles, three at the crown jewel of British tennis, Wimbledon.

  Several decades passed before Great Britain’s next Grand Slam Champion hopeful, Tim Henman, appeared on the court. A former British No. 1, Henman was one of the last great serve-and-volleyers of the Open era. His style delighted his countrymen as it was well-suited for competition on grass, and therefore at Wimbledon. Henman advanced to the semifinals of Wimbledon on four occasions but fell short of reaching a Grand Slam final. He did, however, post a career-high World No. 4 ranking and earn 15 ATP titles.

  Although relatively successful on tour, Henman disappointed England several times, most notoriously during a double’s match at Wimbledon in 1995. Upset with his performance, Henman angrily hit a ball that inadvertently struck a ball girl in the head. He was ejected from the tournament,
making him the first player to ever be disqualified from Wimbledon.

  “The English are very prim and proper. They have standards,” explains Bollettieri. “A Brit cannot get away with questionable behavior, especially on their home soil at Wimbledon.”

  With Henman’s waning popularity toward the end of his career, members of the British media prodded him to quit. He retired in 2007, but Great Britain had long since turned its attention to a young Scot named Andy Murray.

  Murray displayed promise as a champion in his early years and throughout his teens. At 12, he won the esteemed junior Orange Bowl tournament, and at 17, in 2004, he earned the US Open junior title and was later invited to join England’s Davis Cup team. Then in 2006, the Scot beat Roger Federer in the second round at the Cincinnati Masters event. As Murray’s career blossomed, the pressure of a nation began to mount.

  A country in need of a tennis hero, England is clinching to Murray, says Bollettieri. “I believe Andy has what it takes to win a Grand Slam this year,” he continues, adding that even if he falls short of a title, his country should still be proud of his achievements.

  “Look at what Murray has done for the sport in their country. He’s influenced kids to pick up a racquet, have fun and build confidence and curiosity. That right there should be considered a Grand Slam.”

Pressure to be the best
Murray must adopt winning strategy to become a champion.

When an athlete believes that they represent the only hope for their country to have a champion,
sports psychologists say the pressure not to fail can be tremendous. Andy Murray is that athlete.
Athletes who compete for their county as they do in the Olympic Games are motivated beyond personal gratification – they want to succeed for national pride.
  “Playing for Queen and country creates an exciting epic-like journey for a sports career,” says sports psychology coach Adam Naylor, EdD, adding “the highs of competition are higher and the lows are lower.”
  England’s No. 1 tennis sensation, Andy Murray, 23, is in a unique situation: Although the next Olympic Games aren’t until 2012, Murray is motivated to win for his country during each of the four Grand Slams a year. With 70 years gone by since Great Britain’s Fred Perry hoisted a Grand Slam trophy, all eyes are on Murray to be his successor.
  “When an athlete believes that they represent the only hope for their country to have a champion, the pressure not to fail can be tremendous,” says sports hypnotherapist Jack Singer, PhD.
  The media exasperates an already tense situation, says sports performance consultant Marc Sagal. “I suspect it’s hard for Andy to escape the barrage of attention from the media and its associated pressure. Despite his best attempts to create a firewall between himself and the English press, there can be insidious, subtle ways that pressure seeps in.”
  Sagal explains that too much pressure may affect how an athlete trains, noting that it’s useful to make small mental and physical adjustments before a big event, but making too many or unnecessary modifications can produce negative results.
  “Even the slightest bit of extra worry about performance or having slightly more desire to win can alter how he prepares and ultimately performs. When tournaments are concluded, it is likely that both successes and failures have a greater impact as his athletic identity extends beyond himself
and into an entire country,” says Sagal.

  Tried and true methods for dealing with the intense pressure that athletes face may ease performance anxiety. Experts advise Murray to first acknowledge and understand that distractions exist during competition and then develop a mental strategy.
  “Andy should accept that Grand Slams will be a three-ring circus. Pretending that distractions don’t exist and that a Slam is just another tournament is disingenuous and will prove more internally-distracting than focusing,” says Naylor, adding that consistency in how Murray prepares for competition is key.
  Dr. Singer agrees. “Focus on the process of doing your sport, not the outcome. Those who worry about the outcome are distracted from the process and never live up to their potential,” Singer continues. “Andy needs to stay focused on the process of winning each point, game and set and the outcome will take care of itself. He needs to recognize that he is human and there will be less than perfect outings.”
  And finally, sports performance experts agree that after Andy develops a mental game plan, he needs to relax and enjoy this unique experience.