Andy Murray US Open final: Sean Connery and Alex Ferguson to cheer on Murray in grand slam bid

By ALASTAIR DALTON
Published on 10/09/2012 01:20

Andy Murray has two famous cheerleaders backing him to win his first grand slam title tonight – Sir Sean Connery and Sir Alex Ferguson .

All Scotland will hold its breath as Murray takes to the court at Flushing Meadows for the US Open final, with 007 himself and our greatest football manager being no exception.

They burst into a press conference at the weekend following Murray’s semi-final win against Czech star Tomas Berdych, along with the player’s mother, Judy.

Sir Sean told bemused journalists that Scotland had just “conquered the world”, as the Manchester United manager added: “It was a fantastic result. Well done.”

Murray, 25, looking proud
but embarrassed by their appear­ance, said it was the first time he had met them.

But suspecting that alcohol had played a part in the bizarre inter­vention, Murray said to his mother: “You smell of wine.”

Nodding at Sir Alex, she replied: “He made me have wine.”

The two knights promised to return to watch the final.

First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday that Scotland would be united behind Murray.

He said: “Fresh from a Wimbledon final and an Olympic gold medal, 2012 has already been a remarkable year for Andy Murray. A US Open championship would top it off and cement his place as a Scottish sporting legend.

“The whole of Scotland will be right behind Andy in the final, and I would like to wish him the very best of luck.”

The final, at Flushing Meadows in the New York district of Queens, was put back a day after the stadium was evacuated on Saturday because of a tornado warning. It is due to start at 9pm British time.

The freak weather interrupted the second semi-final between Serbian defending champion Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer of Spain during the first set. The two returned yesterday to complete the match, with the Serb winning in four sets.

The storm also hampered Murray’s match earlier on Saturday. He described conditions as “brutal”.

The world No4 said: “The ball was moving, stopping, there were chairs flying. They were some of the hardest conditions I’ve ever played in – and I come from Scotland, so that’s saying something.”

The grand slam final will be Murray’s second in a row after his Wimbledon loss to Roger
Federer.

The Scot said that beating the Swiss legend in the Olympic final had taken some of the
pressure off.

He said: “I did feel a lot
better after that. Maybe I had less doubts about myself and my place in the game just now.”

However, he admitted: “Winning a major is the last thing that I really want to do. You saw at Wimbledon how much that meant to me. It’s obviously not easy to lose another slam final. All I want to make sure I do in the final is that I give 110 per cent.

“I know how hard these
opportunities are to come by, and I will give it everything.”

Murray’s previous grand slam final defeats were in the Australian Open against Novak Djokovic last year and Federer in
2010, and in the 2008 US Open against Federer.

Go Murray! Stars tweet their support

Actor and director Kevin Spacey @KevinSpacey: “Congrats @Andy_Murray on your win today. Insane conditions and you were incredible. I’ll be rooting you on from court side all the way!”

Commentator and former British

tennis No1 Andrew Castle

@AndrewCastle63: “Andy Murray awaits the winner of Djokovic/Ferrer in tomorrow’s final of US Open. Be amazing if Ferrer advances. The rise and rise of Andy M.”

Comedian Greg Hemphill ‏@greghemphill69: “Praying for more ***** weather for Andy Murray’s Grand slam final, it’ll suit him. ***** weather is like sunshine to a Scot”

Author Irvine Welsh @WelshIrvine: “The Shir Sean/Sharlex/Judy Murray story was the best. It made Andy Murray’s win even better and added to the magnificence of being Scottish.”

Glasgow-born author Libby Brooks @libby_brooks: “No matter who or where you are in the world, don’t try to silence a Scot after a wee refreshment”

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