Wimbledon 2011 Results: Andy Murray out to Win One for Britain

There are tennis tournaments, and then there are tennis tournaments. Wimbledon is the latter. It is the oldest tennis tournament in existence, and most will tell you that it is also the most prestigious.

Like all things old and prestigious, Wimbledon can be found in Great Britain. It's something I'm told those on the other side of the pond take very seriously, and they will be taking it particularly seriously on Friday.

For one, Andy Murray will be playing in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal. Murray may be a Scot, but he is still one of Britain's own. But more importantly, Murray is the latest in a long line of last hopes. Alas, no Brit has won Wimbledon in 75 years. That would be like the Yankees going 75 years without winning the World Series.

All kidding aside, the British populace is known to have a notoriously complicated relationship with the world's No. 4 player. While he is indeed one of their own, there is a pretty obvious sense that Murray is not quite the hero many would have asked for.

The fact that Murray's career has taken on a kind of close-but-no-cigar nature would be one thing, but the way in which Murray ever seems to be toeing the line between Scotland and England without crossing over has rubbed many the wrong way. For example, who can forget the anti-Murray sentiment that arose as a result of Murray's anti-England football comments back in 2006?

Of this strange love-hate relationship, Liz Clarke of the Washington Post said it best:

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In the view of many, Murray’s credentials remain suspect. To them, he’s a Brit when he wins or otherwise distinguishes himself on a tennis court, but he’s a truculent Scot when he loses.

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Even Murray himself didn't know what to say when asked how it would feel to win Wimbledon as a Brit.

“I don’t know how it would feel," he said. "I can only answer that once it’s happened.”

A sensible answer, if there ever was one. No doubt the first thing running through Murray's mind if and when he wins Wimbledon will be the thrill of finally having won a Grand Slam. Once he gets over that, maybe that's when he'll confront the whole British thing.

To be sure, it's not like Murray will be damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If he wins Wimbledon, one assumes that his fellow Scots are not going to turn on him just because the Brits are championing him. And if he loses, well, it sounds like only the Brits will be annoyed.

For now, though, the rooting interests of his country should be the last thing on Murray's mind. First he needs to get to the final, and he will have to go through the best player in the world to get there.

No pressure, Andy.