Latest news with #RajeevRam
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Jamie Murray interview: On Andy, playing after 40 and breaking a world record with Laura Robson
Jamie Murray's first Wimbledon without famous brother Andy didn't go to plan with early defeats in the doubles, but he has earned a new claim to fame by breaking a world record. Before the tournament, he and fellow Brit Laura Robson exchanged a rally of 101 shots whilst travelling at 29mph in adjacent cars on a breezy day at Duxford Airfield near Cambridge. 'We were pretty pleased with ourselves,' chuckles Jamie, who was tied to a harness on a bespoke roof rack so he wouldn't fall off as he traded shots. 'We couldn't move our feet because we were locked into position so we had to be really precise with our shots – a bit of performance pressure. 'It was a cool challenge though I'm not sure we'll be seeing it on the practice courts anytime soon!' For most of his career, Jamie has lived in the shadow of his younger sibling, regarded one of Britain's greatest-ever sportsmen. It's probably unfair given that Jamie's seven Grand Slam titles (two men's doubles and five mixed) hasn't been bettered by any British man in the Open era. Now 39-years-old, he thinks there is still more to come, even though his appearance at this year's Wimbledon was brief with first round defeats partnering Rajeev Ram and Emily Appleton. 'I always had a mental block about playing past 40 but I'm just about there now with my next birthday in February and I still want to play next year for sure. So I guess I'll be going into my forties,' he says. 'I'm still enjoying travelling and competing. My ranking is good enough to play the top events and you're a long time retired. 'I haven't had any real injuries or surgeries or anything like that. My body still feels pretty good. I haven't played particularly well in the last couple of years but I'm starting to get my act together now. 'I still think I can do well at these big events. I was struggling with my serve which is the most important shot in the game but I definitely have more confidence with it just now.' The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James are proof that sporting careers can last longer these days. 'We have access to so many recovery techniques and sports science these days,' acknowledges Jamie. 'Better nutrition, massages, cryotherapy, all of it helps. 'It is fair to say I'm in the twilight of my career and I don't think you will see me still out there at 45 but I'm also aware it won't be easy to recreate the feeling of playing a big match in front of a lot of people against the best players in the world.' He laughs at recently having 'shown up in a suit' as tournament director at Queen's Club. His good nature and calm demeanour would make him a natural for tennis administration should he choose that route. Even the inevitable 'Andy questions' that come up don't ruffle him. Jamie was a dutiful older brother last year to team up with Andy for his farewell doubles at Wimbledon, even though he knew Junior was no longer physically fit enough to be competitive. Neither does there seem to be any resentment at having had his own career play second fiddle to Andy, the first British man to win the Wimbledon singles since Fred Perry. Jamie points out that although they don't see each other as regularly since Andy's departure from tour, their time together now is more like normal brothers rather than two tennis players. 'I'm still travelling 30 weeks a year and need to train, and he's got four kids which keeps him busy with after-school activities and all that stuff,' explains Jamie. 'So we probably see each other less now, but when we do it's nicer to be honest. Quality time, they call it! 'We don't do anything out of the ordinary or too crazy. We have played golf a few times. Sometimes we bump into each other in Wimbledon (where they both live) or go round to the house. 'I've achieved a lot in tennis and had a lot of great moments but ultimately it's singles that gets all the headlines. I understand that. 'It's not necessarily something I craved. I'm happy with my career and proud of what I've achieved. It doesn't necessarily matter if people write about it or not. I'm not losing sleep over it.' Jamie Murray and Laura Robson broke a Guinness World record by completing a rally of 101 consecutive shots as the Lexus NX became the latest court for the stars to play on.
The Herald Scotland
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Murray hailed as Scottish tennis trailblazer after Wimbledon defeat
Murray, a joint British record-holding seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion, was knocked out of the men's doubles alongside Rajeev Ram on Thursday evening and unable to bounce back in the mixed as he and Appleton, 25, lost 6-3 6-4 on a packed-out Court 16. Murray was crowned mixed doubles king of SW19 in both 2007 and 2017 and sits joint top with Virginia Wade as the most decorated doubles player in British tennis history. Fellow Scot Lumsden, 27, has grown up idolising the former world No.1 and loved sharing a court with him in front of watching friends and family. 'We know Jamie really well and everything he has achieved,' said Lumsden, who lost alongside Harriet Dart in the women's doubles the previous day. 'He's obviously someone I've always looked up to a lot - he's had an amazing career, won a lot of Slams, so it's very cool to be on the same court as him and play against him. 'I respect him a lot for all he's done for Scottish and British tennis.' The match was played in front of a raucous SW19 atmosphere on a sunbaked Friday afternoon in south-west London. And Stevenson, 26, said: 'There was a group of lads I didn't know would be there I used to played football with, who were loud and had a few drinks. 'It's a relaxed environment on mixed side - to get the opportunity to continue playing at this place is what we want to do.' Elsewhere, Henry Patten kept his men's doubles title defence with Harri Heliovaara alive with a 7-6(6) 6-3 victory over British pair Billy Harris and Marcus Willis. But he was unable to progress in the mixed event alongside Olivia Nicholls, going down 6-3 6-4 against Asia Muhammad and Andres Molteni. Patten, 29, captured Wimbledon hearts last summer with an unexpected men's doubles triumph alongside experienced Finn Heliovaara, 36. And speaking after navigating his way to the third round, he said: 'We've definitely got a little bit of work to do – but we stuck together as a team and got over the line. 'They're good signs that we were able to come together under pressure at the tournament and not get too daunted by that.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Wimbledon star wears black ribbon in tribute to Diogo Jota after Liverpool star's tragic death - as club relaxes strict 148-year dress code to allow players to pay their respects
Wimbledon star Francisco Cabral has stepped onto court sporting a black ribbon on his shirt sleeve in tribute to his compatriot Diogo Jota in the wake of the Liverpool star's tragic death on Thursday morning. The Portugual international was driving through Zamora in northern Spain with his brother Andre Silva in a bid to catch a ferry that would take him back to England to link up with his side ahead of pre-season. The 28-year-old's death has plunged both his home country and his adopted one into mourning, with Premier League fans travelling to Anfield to pay tribute to the forward. In SW19, the All England Club announced that they would relax their stringent all-white rules for players on-court to allow those who wished to sport armbands or tributes to do so. Cabral heard of Jota's death as he was making his way into Wimbledon ahead of his doubles clash with Jamie Murray and Rajeev Ram, and told Mail Sport that although he didn't know the player personally, he knew through a mutual friend that he was a 'great guy'. 'Very, very sad news, not only in the sports world but in Portugal overall, because he's such an idol, such an icon, such a good person,' Cabral said on Thursday. 'I got the news when I was driving to Wimbledon. I just wish all the best for his family. I know they have good people around them so I hope they can get through it. 'I know what he's been through, what he conquered through his career and through his life. So he's just very inspiring for me.' Doubles world No40 Cabral and his partner Lucas Miedler are facing off with Petr Nouza and Patrik Riki on Court No5 for a spot in the third round of the men's doubles. Another doubles player, Liverpool superfan Neal Skupski, also suggested that he might sport an armband for his mixed clash alongside US star Desirae Krawczyk, which also takes place on Friday. The British star suffered a double heartbreak on Thursday as he learned that his grandmother had also passed away after he and partner Joe Salisbury defeated Joshua Paris and Charles Broom. 'It's been a tough day,' said Skupski. 'I found out this morning that Jota had passed away and then I just found out my nan had passed today as well, so it's been a very tough day.' Skupski had brought a black armband with him, but opted not to wear it as he was aware that his grandmother was unwell. He did however hint that 'in the coming days', he might consider doing so.
