91Èȱ¬

Andy Murray press conference habits include fiddling with the microphone, inspecting reporters' latest recording gadgets and an entertaining tendency to over-use the expression "whatnot" ("he's got a good forehand and whatnot") which, I suppose, is mildly better than "and stuff".

Another guarantee, whenever his game-plan is questioned by layman journalists, is the indignant huff, the wry smile, the ever-so-slightly-offended shake of the head.

"Who are these people," he appears to be asking. "Did any of them get to number three in the world?"

And of course he is right. Generally speaking, we are all mostly rubbish, apart from the man from and Suffice to say questioning the best players about their tactics is a dangerous game.

Read the rest of this entry

Picking up the pay cheque has become a casual habit for many tennis players.

I once witnessed a top 10 star sauntering into a tournament office, having been thrashed unforgiveably, and the cheque was acquired with the smile of a lottery winner and the slyness of a pickpocket. A quick glance, to make sure there were sufficient zeros, and he was gone.

Players are creatures of habit - they like to use the same locker, eat at the same restaurant, not step on the lines - and the pocketing of the cheque has become a habit too. Not a moment's thought. Rich man's RSI.

Read the rest of this entry