British paper round-up: Murray was 'so tear, yet so far'

The British simply love their sporting heroes. Not only that, but they will back them at major tournaments with a surety that they will become champions. The English football fans have been doing it since they invented the game. Their only high moment came when they won the World Cup in 1966. It’s the same with their tennis players. As history places the origins of the game in France, England claim the modern version was first played in Birmingham. Come to cricket and after supposedly inventing that sport too, they have never won a World Cup. But this is a never ending cycle. When Andy Murray reached the Wimbledon finals against Roger Federer, they firmly believed he would become the first British player to win the slam since 1936. They also put up the Scottish flag at Downing Street! Sadly, it wasn’t to happen. [caption id=“attachment_372213” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Three tears for Andy. Getty Images[/caption] But their outspoken, brash and often agenda-setting press were gracious in defeat. Here’s a collection of what some of their major newspapers had to say. THE GUARDIAN Andy Murray is already a champion even without a Wimbledon crown: He did not quite claim ownership on Sunday but he came close. Who is to say if the skies had not dumped their unkind load on Wimbledon that Murray would not be waking up this morning as the new men’s singles champion, the first from these islands in 76 years? Full report here. THE SUN - Andy Murray did us proud…now bring on the Olympics - Fed ’n buried - Curse of the living Fed - You’ll be Grand - Three tears for Andy Brave Andy Murray choked back tears on Centre Court yesterday after his heartbreaking Wimbledon final defeat — and told fans: “I’m getting closer.” Here’s the report from which the excerpt is taken. THE TELEGRAPH Tearful Andy Murray loses on court, but wins the nation’s heart: Yes, he was a loser. True, he had failed to break a home duck that stretches back 76 years to Fred Perry’s last victory in 1936. But when he comes to hang up his plimsolls, Murray may well look back on this moment as the one in which he did something his waspish detractors have long insisted was impossible: this was the day on which he was finally embraced by the British public. Click here for the full report. MIRROR - So tear, yet so far - Murray made history, just not quite enough of it - his dream was to emulate Fred Perry, but he got stuck on Bunny Austin He got closer to the grail than any of the other British nearly men in the last 74 years. But he was still one of them. He had come close. He had unsettled a genius for a set and a half. But then the genius had played like a genius and it was too much. For the full report, click here. DAILY MAIL Don’t cry girls, he did us proud: Tearful Kate, Kim and 15million Britons see Andy Murray’s heroic Wimbledon final defeat to Federer Andy Murray gave his all and can hold his head up high. So can British – and especially Scottish – tennis. By yesterday evening, though, Murray had certainly won over legions of new supporters with his emotional tribute to the victor, to his own inner circle and to the British public who were finally allowed a very public glimpse of the real Murray. For the full report, click here.