Sushi on Murray menu as Britain hungers for title

Sushi on Murray menu as Britain hungers for title

If Andy Murray becomes Britain's first men's Wimbledon champion in 77 years, he'll celebrate with a modest plate of sushi and a piece of chocolate in stark contrast to the growing hysteria of his compatriots.

Chef Masaharu Morimoto presents a plate of sushi at the US Open in New York last August. If Andy Murray becomes Britain's first men's Wimbledon champion in 77 years, he'll celebrate with a modest plate of sushi and a piece of chocolate in stark contrast to the growing hysteria of his compatriots.

The 26-year-old Scot tackles world number one Novak Djokovic later Sunday bidding to be the first home winner since Fred Perry in 1936.

Not that Murray, who was beaten by Roger Federer in the 2012 final, will have his head turned.

"I don't actually like junk food these days. I used to love it but, apart from the odd pizza, nowadays I'd prefer to go for a nice meal. If I did win on Sunday sushi would definitely feature in there somewhere," Murray told the BBC.

On hand to watch in the Royal Box on Centre Court will be the usual mix of blue-bloods, sports stars and celebrities.

Victoria Beckham, Wayne Rooney as well as actors Gerard Butler and Bradley Cooper will be taking their seats, rubbing shoulders with British prime minister David Cameron and Serb president, Tomislav Nikolic.

Fans desperate to get into the All England Club to see the match on a giant TV screen from "Murray Mound" in front of Court One were being told as early as 8 o'clock in the morning that the famous Wimbledon queue was already full.

They were informed that there was little chance of late-comers getting into the grounds before 6pm.

With national media already crowing over the British and Irish Lions' rugby thumping of Australia and eagerly anticipating a landslide victory for their cricketers when the Ashes gets underway next week, Murray is expected to continue the theme.

"Whether or not Andy Murray can break through the next level of shackles the nation has wrapped around his psyche -- the 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men's champion -- his final against Novak Djokovic will almost certainly be an ordeal," wrote The Observer.

The Sunday Times added: "Andy Murray will wake today believing he will never have a better opportunity to end Britain's interminable wait for a winner of the Wimbledon men's singles".

The Sunday Telegraph predicts worldwide stardom for Murray should he win a second career major following his Grand Slam breakthrough victory at the US Open last year.

"A Wimbledon victory for Andy Murray today would turn him from a British hero into a global superstar," said the newspaper.

Murray already has lucrative sponsorship deals as well as having raked in over $27 million in career prize money.

On the 2013 Sunday Times Rich List, his wealth was estimated to be pound sterling32 million ($47.6 million) while victory on Sunday will guarantee a winner's cheque of pound sterling1,600,000 ($2.4m).

"He's reported to be earning pound sterling8m ($11.9m) or pound sterling9m ($13.4m) off court at the moment. We could see that edging up to pound sterling15m ($22.3m) if he wins at Wimbledon," Nigel Currie, director of the sports marketing agency brandRapport, told Sky News.

Meanwhile, host broadcaster BBC recorded a five-minute peak audience of 13.2 million viewers when Murray beat Jerzy Janowicz in Friday's semi-finals.

Judy Murray, the mother of the British player, said her son was relaxed about his prospects.

"He's as calm as he could be, or he seemed to be. He knows what to expect, he has Ivan Lendl with him, he's been to eight Slam finals, they know what to do, so let's hope he can play his best tennis today," she said.

Other sportsmen were already getting behind Murray on Sunday.

"All we need now is @LewisHamilton & @andy_murray to WIN today and its a great day for British sport! come on booooooooys !!!," tweeted Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand.

Former England rugby union captain, Will Carling, wrote on Twitter: "I am on a roll, so whilst at it predicting Murray loses in 3 straight sets.....let's hope I am as right about that as Lions 3rd Test! #fool."

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