Over 1.5million Scots will tomorrow tune in and cheer on Andy Murray in his bid to reach another Wimbledon final.
Murray must overcome seven-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer to secure his place in the final, where he will most likely face world number one Novak Djokovic.
The world number three, from Dunblane, has been in stunning form this year but he branded his last match against Federer “embarrassing” after he went down 6-0, 6-1 at the ATP World Tour Finals in November.
Murray has said that defeat prompted a complete rethink in how he tackled the game’s top players.
Both players won their Wimbledon quarter finals in straight sets, Murray beating Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 6-4 7-5 6-4 while the Swiss eased past Gilles Simon, winning 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.
Tomorrow’s tie will be Murray’s 23rd meeting with Federer and although the Swiss former world number one has the slight upper hand (12 wins to Murray’s 11) and has come out on top in their last three matches, Murray’s form this year suggests he can go into the tie with plenty of confidence.
The last time the pair met in grass was the 2012 Olympic final when Murray produced a historic performance to secure gold just a number of weeks after Federer defeated him in the Wimbledon final.
Can Murray work some more magic and reach another Wimbledon final? We (at the strictly neutral Press and Journal) certainly hope so.
Here is a look at some more key details that you will need to know ahead of the match…
When will Andy Murray v Roger Federer start?
The two will go head-to-head on Friday, with the start time yet to be confirmed but expected to be 1pm on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
How can I watch the match?
Tickets, surprisingly enough, have sold out however, Wimbledon coverage will be shown life on BBC2 from 12.30pm before moving to BBC1 at 1.45pm – with the match also to be shown live on the BBC website. Highlights are on BBC2 at 8pm.
So will the whole country be supporting Murray?
While fans will be spending Friday (and hopefully Sunday) cheering on Murray, hoping for a victory, bookmakers will be doing quite the opposite, with a Murray Wimbledon victory set to cost bookies a record £20million.
The previous record tennis payout was £17m when Murray won Wimbledon in 2013 but the cost of a Murray victory this year has been estimated at at least £20million.
The bookies have priced Andy Murray as the slight favourite. Murray is currently 8/11 and Federer, 11/10.
Did you know….
You can stay in Andy Murray’s very own hotel, the 5 star Hotel Cromlix, just outside of Dunblane, the birth place of the British number one. The hotel was in the spotlight in April this year when it was the venue for Murray’s wedding reception after he and Kim Sears tied the knot.
The Press and Journal Travel are pleased to offer our readers the opportunity to stay at the luxury hotel – One night stay and breakfast from £125 pp. For more information, or if you are interested in booking please click here.