LONDON: Preparing for what could be the defining moment of his career, Andy Murray believes he will be under less pressure in the Wimbledon final on Sunday because he is playing 16-time grand slam champion Roger Federer.
The majority of the 15,000 fans with a golden ticket for the final will be willing Murray to become the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men’s singles for 76 years.
Swiss maestro Federer, who boasts a global army of admirers, will be chasing a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon crown and a return to the top spot in the ATP rankings. Reaching his eighth final is a record in itself.
It looks a dream scenario and Murray, the first British man to reach the final since Bunny Austin in 1938.
“It’s a great challenge, one where I’m probably not expected to win the match, but one that if I play well, I’m capable of winning,” Murray said.
“There will be less pressure on me tomorrow because of who he is.”
Federer, who will reach another couple of landmarks if he beats Murray, equalling the seven men’s singles titles of Pete Sampras as well as the 286 weeks the American spent at world No.1, produced a brilliant performance to beat 2011 champion Novak Djokovic and reach his eighth Wimbledon final.
Murray enjoys an 8-7 lead over Federer in their previous meetings but the Swiss beat him in straight sets in the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open finals and the Briton is under no illusions about the size of the task facing him.
“He’s obviously one of the greatest players ever to have played,” said fourth seed Murray.
“He’s been doing it consistently over a number of years… He’s very, very tough to beat here.”
Federer, 30, has lost only once in seven Wimbledon finals, an epic five-set battle against Rafael Nadal in 2008, and he is excited by the prospect of playing home favourite Murray.
“He’s only going to get better as time goes by. That’s what he’s been proving,” Federer said.
“I always say in whatever country I am I like to play the local hero and Andy is exactly that here at Wimbledon. (Reuters)