I've never really thought of myself as an Andy Murray fan. Today, though, I was definitely pulling for him in the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic. I think it started last year at Wimbledon when, after losing to Roger Federer in the final, Murray started his post-match interview by shaking his head, rubbing his face, searching for words, and finally stating "I'm getting closer ..." before trailing off and beginning to cry. I thought that was pretty raw emotion.
So, as I watched the match this morning, I was hoping that Murray would finally get his elusive Wimbledon title. After he wasted three match points in the final game, I was certain he'd fold. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to come back after being that close to the championship. But, that's why he was playing at Centre Court in front of a live audience of 15,000 desperately hoping that he would win while I was at home watching in my recliner. Murray managed to fight off that disappointment, pull himself together, and finally win the title on his fourth match point.
After the match, he went up another notch in my book. It's customary for the winner of a Grand Slam title to climb up into the box of their friends and family and celebrate their victory. After seeing shot after shot of Judy Murray, Andy's mother, throughout the match, I wondered if she'd get the first hug. Would he skip right over his girlfriend, the lovely pet portrait artist (seriously) Kim Sears, and his coach, the great Ivan Lendl who never could quite manage a Wimbledon title during his own career, and run straight to his mother? As he began his climb to their box, I couldn't wait to see what would happen.
As it turns out, it was Lendl who got the first hug. Then, it was Andy's brother. After that, there was a short hug and kiss for Kim. From there, Andy kept right on acknowledging everyone in the box -- everyone except for Mom, that is. He was actually headed back down to the court before he remembered that good old Mom was still waiting for her hug. He turned back and gave her the longest embrace of all.
All this isn't to say that Judy didn't deserve a hug. And, knowing that my own mother is surely going to read this at some point, yes, I would give you a hug if you were in the friends and family box watching me win my first Wimbledon championship. Just not the first one. You see, if you hug your mother before your girlfriend, your girlfriend will never forgive you. That's just the way it is.