Biggest News In The U.K. For 2013 / Andy Murray Wins Wimbledon

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 10th December 2013

Biggest News In The U.K. For 2013 / Andy Murray Wins Wimbledon

epa03841228 Andy Murray, of the United Kingdom, serves to Michael Llodra, of France, during their match on the third day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 28 August 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

2013 has been an eventful year for the United Kingdom. A new king was born in the shape of Prince George and the nearest thing the nation had to a president died with the passing of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. But in terms of Facebook, one thing out-powered all others and that was Andy Murray becoming the first British male to win Wimbledon for 77 years.

Murray’s triumph, coming a year after going so close in the final and winning the Olympic gold medal on the All England’s hallowed turf at Wimbledon, was the most talked about topic on Facebook in Britain this year.

When it comes to social media, the new charismatic pontiff Pope Francis was the most popular topic globally but in his homeland Murray reigned supreme, and the Wimbledon campaign, culminating in the dramatic win over Novak Djokovic drove more conversations than any other event.

And that sports-wise that included the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson after nearly 27 years as Manchester United’s manager and England’s cricket team retaining the Ashes against Australia, and Justin Rose becoming the first English golfer to win the US Open for 43 years.

In addition London’s O2 Arena, home of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, became the most checked in place in Britain, beating other iconic venues such as Wembley Stadium, Leicester Square and Harrods.

Murray is set to make his tennis comeback at the exhibition Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi, starting December 26. He is then scheduled to make the short trip along the Arabian Gulf to make his first ATP World Tour outing since September in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, beginning December 30.

The top five topics on Facebook in the UK for 2013

1. Andy Murray wins Wimbledon (July)

2. Margaret Thatcher dies (April)

3. Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League Football Final (May)

4. The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to Prince George (July)

5. Sir Alex Ferguson retires as manager of Manchester United (May)

Topics: 10sballs.com, 2013, Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, Margaret Thatcher, Novak Djokovic, Pope Francis, Prince George, Sir Alex Ferguson, Tennis, Tennis News, Wimbledon