BRITISH TENNIS ON THE UP AND UP !

The recent successes of our triumvirate of Murray, Watson and Robson seem to herald a new era in British tennis.

 

Murray has finally won his 'Grand Slam' and added this to an Olympic Gold Medal. Watson has become the first British woman for almost 25 years to win an event on the womens' main tour while Robson almost beat her to this honour by being the first Briton to reach a final for nearly as long only a couple of weeks earlier. We now have Murray firmly established amongst the game's elite while both Watson and Robson are hovering around the top-50 mark in the womens rankings, with much more expected of them next year.

 

Andy Murray has made tortuous progress since his arrival on the scene as a gangly though highly talented boy a few years ago. His triumph in the US Open Championship finally laid to rest the ghost of Fred Perry and he is now one of the main contenders every time he competes; with the successes of this year behind him, he may well win another Grand Slam' or 2.

 

Laura Robson, who seems to have been around for years though is still only 18, seems to have the talent and charisma to become a big name in the near future; her Wimbledon exploits clearly gave her the confidence to progress and great things will be expected of her next year. Let's hope that the expectations don't become too weighty for her.

 

Heather Watson, at 20, has made quieter progress than Robson but is every bit as good. She may lack a bit of Robson's 'on-court' sparkle at times and possibly hasn't had the self-belief that top players need, though her recent victory in Osaka may well have cured her of this. Watson is now the top-ranked British player having overtaken Robson though there is little to choose between them. The old stagers like Baltacha and Keothavong have been left far behind by both.

 

What next year will bring is anyone's guess though it may not be too much to hope for another Murray 'Grand Slam' and the continued rise of our 2 women, perhaps into the world's top-20 where we haven't had any serious representation since the almost forgotten days of Ann Jones, Virginia Wade and Sue Barker. Now that would be something !