Andy Murray's time has come: Rod Laver

Oh, for lord's sake. "So your reply to the Viscount didn’t express hope that Rod Laver was the only Australian wanting the Brit to win?" First, I wasn't completely serious, thus the sticking out tongue. But also, it was in response to a comment that 'It’s nice to know that the old Anglo solidarity beats strong in the hearts of some Australians at least.' In a match between a Brit and a Serbian, why should I barrack for the Brit because of some 'anglo solidarity'? I'm not anglo, but even forgetting that, I don't have any emotional connection with Britain, and nor do I feel obligated to barrack for Murray merely because he's British. If I had made a comment about supporting Li Na because of 'Aust/Chinese solidarity', would you think it was horribly offensive if someone else said that they feel more solidarity with Kim and that they half-jokingly hoped I was the only one who felt solidarity with Li? Or does solidarity only extend to certain countries? Countries that you approve of that is. For that matter, why isn't it anti-Serbian to presume that Australians should barrack for the Brit? I would argue that you, and others, are being anti-Serbian. Not supporting Djokovic because he's Serbian, or just not British, isn't particularly nice. But then this is sport, and in sport, we tend to go for or against different countries. "Despite the smiley emoticon I would have interpreted that as a sour comment towards the British." I'm sure they will get over it. This is really absurd. Unless you are willing to come to the defense of every country in sport (some of the comments about the UAE getting the World Cup weren't exactly noble), then you will just have to accept that not everybody feels the same way that you do in a sporting sense about your 'favourite' countries. "And then to say ‘I for one wouldn’t mind if English hearts were broken again’?" Yes, and I stand by it. If there's one thing that delights me no end in the world of sports, it's England's relative lack of success (along with seeing America and France lose). If you think it's offensive, well, you clearly need to get your priorities in order. One last comment on all of this; among the biggest sporting events involving Australia is the Ashes, and people often talk about wanting to break Britain’s hearts. This does not mean that people hate the Brits, just as not wanting to barrack for Djokovic in a matcg against a Brit (hopefully) does not mean that people hate Serbs. "I can certainly see where Lunchtime O’Booze is coming from." I can't see where either of you are coming from at all.

So your reply to the Viscount didn't express hope that Rod Laver was the only Australian wanting the Brit to win? Despite the smiley emoticon I would have interpreted that as a sour comment towards the British. And then to say 'I for one wouldn't mind if English hearts were broken again'? I can certainly see where Lunchtime O'Booze is coming from.

I was delighted. Watching Murray lose is the most enjoyable experience known to man. Or possibly the second best. Brilliant.

I don't mind that it hasn't, however I wish that he would have put more of a challenge. The second set, in particular, was extremely disappointing.

"I think you did." No, I did not. Provide me with one example where I expressed hatred or loathing of the British? Anyway, I think I would know better than you whether I expressed loathing of the British. "No professed interest in the outcome of the game (in which case why bother posting?)" I posted because I'm a tennis fan, and while I don't much like either player, I am interested in who wins the Australian Open. I even said that I would supporting Djokovic (who won), so while I did not express how much the game interests me, I did not say that it didn't interest me at all. For that matter, it is entirely possible to be interested in the outcome of a game, even if one doesn't much like the participants. Anyway, what concern is it of yours if I post or not? "but two seperate anti-British comments." Are you serious? What are my anti-British comments? "What’s your problem?" I could ask the same of you. What is your problem with what I wrote?!

Andy Murrays time hasn't come.

I think you did. No professed interest in the outcome of the game (in which case why bother posting?) but two seperate anti-British comments. What's your problem?

I never gave any indication that I loathe the British.

So it's okay for Amazonfan to express how much he loathes the British but niot to give them the right of reply, is it mods?

I should add that I don't have a horse in the race as I don't much like either player. However I will be supporting Djokovic; I think he has been playing better, I don't like the fact that Murray has been annointed the next Great British Hope, and I wouldn't mind it if Britain's hearts were broken once again.

"And kudos to splendid old Rod Laver. It’s nice to know that the old Anglo solidarity beats strong in the hearts of some Australians at least." Well, hopefully he's the only one. :P

Good luck, Andy. Most right-thinking Britons will be cheering you on. (Excuse poor Marcel - he's barely house trained). And kudos to splendid old Rod Laver. It's nice to know that the old Anglo solidarity beats strong in the hearts of some Australians at least.

For some reason ? It's obvious: his face looks like a smacked backside. Murray is as miserable as....................er....................Andy Murray. He is his own simile. Murray is an easy man to dislike. Too easy, peut-etre.

I prefer Djokovic. Do it for England, Djokovic. Make the Jock cry.

Of courseL if he wins, he's British. If he loses, he's Scottish. This truth we hold to be self-evident. I think it's mentioned in the Bible or something. We English are rightly suspicious of the Jocks.

then again, the match could be played indoors, with the use of the retractable roof, plus its played at night.

Could be a game of survival. Crazy heat in Melbourne.

hope Djokovic wins for some reason I find Andy Murray unlikeable. At times, Murray would say, that he has got the measure of Federer and Nadal, while other times, when he gets beaten, he complains that he will never win a grand slam. Yes I know Murray is under pressure, to break the drought for british tennis, which a player hasn't won a grand slam for over a thousand years But If Murray does win, I hope it loosens him up a bit. Crack a smile At the moment Murray is an uptight scot, or brit, or whereever his from. Anyway I hope "the joker" wins. His semi final win was more impressive than Murrays.

Perhaps, however if he wins, the English press will claim him regardless.

Disagree. Djokovic has before been badly affected by the heat and didn't he have to once retire because of it? Both are in great physical shape, but Murray has prepared well in the heat of Perth and also lived in Barcelona for a while when he moved there at 15.