ANDY MURRAY
Home-court advantage.
WIMBLEDON, England — The Brits know how to stage a coronation, and they’ll do so today for either regal Roger Federer or one of their own, Andy Murray.
Queen Elizabeth II has another commitment, but the former Kate Middleton and the British prime minister will be on hand to see who reigns at Wimbledon.
Plenty of history will be written in the men’s final at tennis’ most tradition-rich tournament. Federer can add to his record 16 Grand Slam championships, and he would tie a record by winning Wimbledon for a seventh time. He also would claim the ATP’s top ranking for the first time since June 2010, and match Pete Sampras’ record of 286 weeks at No. 1.
“There’s a lot on the line for me,” Federer said.
Murray, meanwhile, is merely trying to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam title since Fred Perry took Wimbledon and the U.S. Championships in 1936.
“It has been a great tournament so far,” Murray said. “I’ve just got to try to keep it together for the final.”
Britain’s abuzz. Even without the queen, the Royal Box is certain to be packed, along with the rest of Centre Court. Tickets are going for more than 2,600 pounds ($4,000). Thousands have bought 8-pound ($12.40) grounds passes to picnic near Wimbledon’s practice courts on the grassy hill known these days as Murray Mount, watching the match on a huge video screen.
Loyalties will be divided. Brits love Federer, the celebrated Swiss whose graceful game is so well suited to the All England Club.
Allegiance for the stolid Murray is more a matter of geography, and even then it’s complicated. He’s a native of Scotland, where there’s a campaign afoot to break away from Britain. Whenever Murray loses, the English tend to call him Scottish, not British.