Andy Murray sees off Tommy Haas to reach last 16 of Wimbledon

Anthony Clavane at Wimbledon, sundaymirror.co.uk 29/06/2008

Andy Murray

Hold on tight as the nation prepares to go Murray-mad over the next few days. The young Scot came through his toughest test so far to roar into the second week of Wimbledon.

The adulation for Andy has failed to match the heights of Henmania but there were definite signs of the beginnings of a love-in with the Centre Court yesterday.

The Scot was given a standing ovation after snuffing out Tommy Haas to set up a fourth-round clash with Richard Gasquet - and there was even a bit of whooping and hollering.

After beating Haas 6-4 6-7 6-3 6-2, Murray said: "The support that I've had at Wimbledon every time I've played this tournament has been awesome.

It's different this year because there's no Tim Henman or Greg Rusedski, and I'm the only guy left in the singles. All the British women are out, as well.

"So everyone obviously wants me to do well. That makes a huge difference - it gives me that extra lift.

"The crowd got right behind me and Tommy's head went down a bit. He started to lose his head a little bit in that third set, I thought."

Haas certainly presented the Scot with his first stern test of the tournament, but Murray came through with flying colours in the end - and is now on course to reach the quarter-final of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Murray was clearly out to prove a point to Haas's compatriot Michael Stich, who claimed the German would win because of the Scot's "poor" second serve. Murray said: "According to the stats I won 56 per cent of points on my second serve and he only won 39 per cent on his, so I served better than him today."

And so the 21-year-old goes into the second week of Wimbledon as Britain's lone survivor - and the pressure is about to be ratcheted up.

The crowd are - slowly but surely - starting to take him to their hearts.

The turning point in this match - and perhaps in the Centre Court's relationship with the Scot - came in the fifth game of the fourth set when he half-volleyed an amazing passing shot to put him in the driving seat to win this intriguing encounter.

It's been a great first week for Murray, who has been playing some brilliant tennis at the All-England Club, serving with real venom and accuracy.

The 12th seed won the first set 6-4 in just over half-an-hour after breaking Haas's serve in the third game. He then broke the German's serve again in the third game of the following set. Haas fought back to level and nerves affected both players as the first four serves of the tie-break were all broken - until the unseeded 30-year-old took the initiative to win the second set.

Murray showed great mental strength, though, to regain control in the third, breaking Haas's serve in the fourth game of the set. And in the decisive fourth set he was simply awesome, twice breaking serve to win it 6-2.

SW19 has been witnessing a new calm and relaxed Murray, a million miles away from the explosive tantrums of two years ago - the last time he appeared here.

He has discarded his cap, cut his hair, is clean-shaven and has deleted all expletives. He has even treated the crowd to some keepyuppy with the tennis ball and acquired a dog - a border terrier called Maggie named after Rod Stewart's song Maggie May.

"I think I've stayed pretty calm so far," said Murray. "Last time, two years ago, I didn't deal well with getting into the second week. This time I'm going to stay relaxed and not get too excited, not get too ahead of myself."

WIMBLEDON SHORTS

The grass court season has an added bonus for Andy Murray - it's the only time he's at home long enough to practise on the pool table, a 21st birthday present to himself, in his new London flat.

"I've moved all the furniture around to make room for it," he say

WIMBLEDON SHORTS

Et is on his way than that a British woman will win Wimbledon. Sky Bet offer 200-1 that an alien lands on Centre Court at this year's championship - and 250-1 that a Brit emulates Virginia Wade's 1977 triumph in the next five years