Andy Murray of Britain, right, congratulates Roger Federer of Switzerland, as he poses with his trophy following the men’s singles final match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Sunday, July 8, 2012.The hurt was contagious, the disappointment overwhelming.
The regal Roger Federer may have been the opponent, but this was supposed to be Andy Murray’s moment, his first Grand Slam tennis title about to be won in his fourth major final, the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon all dressed up to deliver the Dunblane, Scotland, native’s appropriate breakthrough triumph.
Heck, the stars were so lined up for Murray to deliver Great Britain its first gentleman’s singles championship since Fred Perry in 1936 that a fellow Brit — Bradley Wiggins — had taken the overall lead following the seventh leg of the Tour de France on Saturday, becoming just the fifth Brit in history to wear the yellow jersey.
Even Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince William’s wife, Kate, and her sister, Pippa Middleton, were in the house, though it’s doubtful they had to cough up the reported scalper’s price of 25,000 pounds for the privilege.
It was all so big and hopeful and glorious that one London sports writer told ESPN that a Murray win would become the biggest sports moment in jolly, old England since it posted a 4-2 victory over Germany in the 1966 World Cup final. And we all know how they love their soccer over their across the pond.