Andy Murray mobbed by fans at Wimbledon as he reveals that tennis is ‘a distraction’ from family life
Ace reveals ahead of £26k-a-ticket final that he'll be thinking about wife Kim and baby Sophia before game
ANDY Murray was mobbed by hordes of fans as he practised ahead of the Wimbledon final -- before revealing tennis now comes second in his life.
Tickets for his final on Sunday against Canadian Milos Raonic were being offered at £52,000 a pair as Murray mania took hold.
But despite the huge sums fans are forking out to see the 29-year-old star, he said: “Experiencing the Wimbledon fortnight as a parent has been different because now I have a family to get home to.
“For the first time, tennis is probably more of a distraction from my home life rather than the other way around."
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The Wimbledon 2013 champ’s wife Kim gave birth to daughter Sophia in February.
He added: “Beforehand, in the build-up to a Slam final, I’d always just be thinking about that match.
“I don’t feel like that now — I’m just looking forward to the next time I see Sophia and Kim.
“Sophia’s watched a bit of tennis with Kim at home these last couple of weeks and maybe when she’s older, she’ll want to come and see me play.
“I would like that — it would be nice for me in a selfish way.”
The BBC is expecting a record 18million tuning in, beating the tournament’s all-time 17.3million high for 1980’s Bjorn Borg v John McEnroe final.
Chris Humpherson, of TV ratings provider Overnights.tv, said: “This is one of the biggest TV events of the past three years.”
For the first time, tennis is probably more of a distraction from my home life rather than the other way around
The National Grid is braced for a post-match power surge as 500,000 kettles are switched on.
Millions more will watch in pubs with a £70million sales boost expected as 20 per cent more pints and bottles of wine are downed.
Supermarkets forecast rocketing strawberry, Pimm’s and BBQ sales for armchair fans’ parties.
Fans have camped for two nights for a ground pass to watch on the Murray Mound big screen.
No Centre Court tickets are available at the gate.
Stuart Bere, 41, a gardener from Lincolnshire, who has queued at every Wimbledon for 24 years, said: “I fancy this is Andy’s year again.”
Muzza has a tough fight on his hands against big-hitting Raonic, 25, who dumped out Roger Federer on Friday.
Murray will bank £2million if he wins and £1million if he loses.
A PATIENT QUEUER...
BRAIN injury victim Graeme Durno spent four nights queuing for a Murray Mound ticket today — wearing his hospital tag and on morphine.
Decorator Graeme, 54, was so badly wounded in a road accident four weeks ago he was kept on a ward until Tuesday.
Graeme, from Bournemouth, said: “My mates think I’m crazy but this is a big thing for me.
“I am a huge supporter of tennis and Andy Murray in particular.”