Latest news with #EmilyAppleton
Daily Mail
3 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.
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Murray hailed as Scottish tennis trailblazer after Wimbledon defeat
The Scot, 39, combined with Emily Appleton in the mixed doubles event but suffered a straight sets defeat against Glasgow's Maia Lumsden and partner David Stevenson. 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.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Murray hailed as Scottish tennis trailblazer after Wimbledon defeat
By Will Jennings at Wimbledon Jamie Murray was hailed as an icon of Scottish tennis after losing a boisterous battle of Britain encounter at Wimbledon. The Scot, 39, combined with Emily Appleton in the mixed doubles event but suffered a straight sets defeat against Glasgow's Maia Lumsden and partner David Stevenson. Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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.' Advertisement 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. Advertisement '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.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hamish Stewart determined to learn from Wimbledon Qualifying defeat
Hamish Stewart is determined to take lessons from his third round Wimbledon Qualifying defeat. The Strathblane star valiantly battled to the last against Leandro Riedi, but went down 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4 in Roehampton Advertisement It brought down the curtain on an action-packed week for Stewart, who had already come through four matches before his progress was checked by Riedi. But the 25-year-old world No.550, who trains in Stirling, is insistent that he heads home with his head held high. 'It's been tough on the body a little bit but not too bad, said the 25-year-old. 'I'm very proud and if you told me at the start of pre-qualifying, that I'd get to qualifying, I'd have bit your arm off. 'I'm proud. I'm disappointed not to get the last one but it's a huge confidence booster and has given me a lot of drive and belief for the rest of the year. Advertisement 'It's motivated me a lot for the rest of the year getting this close. To think back to this time last year that I would be one match away from getting in is huge and I just want to get back out there. 'I want to be here off my ranking next year. That's achievable and something I'm looking to do.' Stewart wasn't the only Brit taking centre stage in Roehampton, with compatriots Oliver Tarvet and Emily Appleton also in action. Tarvet made history by becoming the first British man to advance to the main draw through qualifying since Alexander Ward in 2017. The world No.719 got the better of Alexander Blockx 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-1 to reach his first-ever Grand Slam main draw, at the same tournament he attended as a child. Advertisement 'It's a great feeling, qualifying for your first Slam,' said Tarvet. 'As a kid, we used to go every year with either my parents or my sister. 'I played tennis growing up and was pretty good, so it was something I'd always looked forward to, coming down to Wimbledon and seeing the professionals. 'It seemed so far away then but it's the reality now and it's a great feeling. I was happy to pull through.' But there was no such happy ending for Appleton, who was defeated by Veronika Erjavec 6-2 2-6 6-0. For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
GB's Tarvet, ranked 719, reaches Wimbledon main draw
Oliver Tarvet previously defeated top-250 players Terence Atmane and Alexis Galarneau in the first two qualifying rounds [Getty Images] Britain's world number 719 Oliver Tarvet has reached the Wimbledon singles main draw - which will contain the highest number of home players for 41 years. Tarvet upset Belgian world number 144 Alexander Blockx 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-1 in the final round of qualifying on Thursday. Advertisement It was the 21-year-old's first time playing a best-of-five match. Tarvet's victory means there will be 23 British players - 11 men and 12 women - in the singles draw when Wimbledon begins on 30 June. That is the most since 1984, when there were nine men and 14 women. The Englishman, who is from St Albans, competes on the US collegiate circuit and has one year left on his studies at the University of San Diego. Most college sports in America are strictly amateur, so Tarvet will be unable to claim the vast majority of his £66,000 prize money for reaching the Wimbledon first round. "There's a lot of emotions, but the the main one is just happiness," Tavert said. Advertisement "Ever since I was a little kid, it's been my dream." Tavert previously defeated top-250 players Terence Atmane of France and Canadian Alexis Galarneau in the first two rounds of qualifying. Earlier on Thursday, British world number 550 Hamish Stewart fell 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4 to Swiss Leandro Riedi. Emily Appleton also missed out on a main-draw spot, losing 6-2 2-6 6-0 to Veronika Erjavec of Slovenia. 'I might be flying my coach home by private jet' Tarvet's prize money situation is not unheard of. Last year, Australian Maya Joint forfeited more than $200,000 in prize money after reaching the second round of the US Open while still an amateur at the University of Texas. Advertisement Student-athletes are allowed to claim up to $10,000 per year from any prize money, which goes towards expenses and entrance fees. "It's a little bit awkward because I've got to find a lot of expenses and I really want to come back to University of San Diego to complete my fourth year," Tavert said. "What they've done for me is just incredible and I'm so grateful. I want to spend my fourth year there and really leave my mark on US history. "I can claim up to $10,000 so I might be flying my coach on a private jet at home." Tavert 'unlikely to change his plans' Analysis by BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller Advertisement Qualifying for the main draw of Wimbledon is unlikely to change Tarvet's plans for the year ahead. He is said to be keen to complete his degree and play a final year on the phenomenally competitive US college circuit. He was ranked in the top 5 division one singles players in this year's NCAA Championships, having won 23 of his 25 matches. Tarvet has only played two professional tournaments this year, but won one of them - a $15,000 ITF World Tour event which took place in San Diego. The world number 719 has already accumulated five titles in his very short career - all of which have been on the lowest rung of the professional ladder. Advertisement $25,000 is the largest prize fund he has ever competed for. The total prize pot at Wimbledon is $73.52 million (£53.5 million).
