(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/07/27/Wimbledon-Friday2-Murray-Will-Enjoy-Win-Credits-Lendl.aspx)
World No. 4 Andy Murray has responded to each of his challenges at The Championships this year, making his way through a difficult Wimbledon draw to become Great Britain’s first man to reach the singles final at the All England Club since 1938.
While his nation has ached to see one of its own compete in Sunday’s final for 74 years, Murray said he wasn’t thinking about the weight of his country leaning on him during his semi-final clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. But the emotional toll of the victory broke through when he clinched the four-set victory against the Frenchman, as he wiped away tears of joy, and relief.
“I’ve been trying to explain [that] I don’t really think about it that much, but I think like subconsciously at the end of the match, it was very emotional,” said Murray. “I haven’t really been like that before in a semi-final match, so obviously it meant something to me and it was very, very important.
“And, yes, there is a lot of pressure and stress around this time of year. I don’t feel it when I’m on the practice court [or] when I’m just kind of walking around. I try not to think about that stuff. But in the back of my mind it’s obviously there.”
The Dunblane native, who had fallen in the semi-final stage in his three previous appearances, believes it is important to take in what he achieved by defeating Tsonga before dialing in on his final clash with six-time champion Roger Federer.
“Tonight, I think I need to make sure I enjoy myself, enjoy the win. It’s not every day you’re through to the final of a Grand Slam, and also Wimbledon,” Murray said. “So I need to make sure I enjoy tonight, and then tomorrow get back on the practice court and make sure I hit enough balls tomorrow and get focused for Sunday.”
In getting over the hurdle of ending his country’s drought for a homegrown finalist, Murray credits his time with coach Ivan Lendl, pointing to the eight-time Grand Slam champion helping him to improve his on-court mentality by reducing the number of emotional peaks and valleys.
“I think after the match today, you try to make sure you don’t get too excited on the court, never get too high, never get too down, which maybe in the past I was too up and down. I needed to try and be a bit more stable on the court [and] not be so emotional,” said Murray.
“I’d say that’s the one thing that I’ve learnt from being around him. Like I explained after the match today, it wasn’t like [I] was jumping around the locker room with excitement. It was, ‘There’s one more match to go. Well done today, but let’s focus on the next one.’”
Holding an 8-7 edge in his FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series with Federer, Murray is looking for his first win over the Swiss in a best-of-five-set match. All 15 of their previous meetings have come on hard courts. Federer defeated Murray in straight sets to win the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open finals.
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