SAM Querrey lives in La La Land but he can only California dream of the kind of profile that Andy Murray enjoys during Wimbledon. The affable 29-year-old from Santa Monica reckons the attention focused on today’s quarter final opponent at this time of year might even supersede the Super Bowl, while only Stateside megastars such as LeBron James and Tom Brady can rival the focus on the 30-year-old from Dunblane. By contrast, this laid back big dude - who shocked Novak Djokovic at this venue 12 months ago - reckons his exploits in South West London hardly register across the pond.
“It seems like he [Murray] is the guy over here,” said Querrey. “If a bee stings him, everybody is going to know about it. I think his hip was probably bugging him early, but he seems to be fine now. These two weeks, it’s all about him.
“It’s like nothing that we have in the States,” added the World No 29. “I’m sure a couple of the football players are massive names, too, but he is arguably the biggest athlete over here. In the US we have maybe 10 athletes that are kind of, you would argue, on the same level.
“But the entire country seems like they watch Wimbledon. In the US, whether it’s football, baseball, basketball, tennis, a lot of people watch, but not 100% of America watches even the Super Bowl. I doubt people in L.A. even know what’s going on over here.”
As much as Querrey would love to cross over more into the mainstream in terms of media profile - in 2015 he took part in an episode of Blind Date-style dating show ‘The Millionaire Matchmaker’ - he is aware of what comes with it.
“Andy has earned that position,” said Querrey. “But I’m sure he feels pressure sometimes. He’s done an incredible job living up to it and winning Wimbledon, winning the Olympics, being No. 1 in the world. He’s really accomplished all a player can accomplish. Everything now is just like icing on the cake.
“I’d love to be at that next level [of fame],” he said. “That would mean I’d probably be No. 1 or 2 in the world, have a ton of money, have Grand Slams. But I do know there’s a lot that comes with a lot more to it. I’m very happy right now with my life.”
Querrey would be a lot happier, of course, if he could reprise last year’s heroics against an opponent who has vanquished him on seven of their eight meetings, most recently in Australia this January. They also have a meeting at Wimbledon in 2010 on their resume, also resulting in a comfortable win for the Scot. So what has he learned from all of these past setbacks? “I haven’t really learned anything,” said Querrey.” He makes a ton of balls. He plays great defence. Who doesn’t know that? I have to try to beat him playing my game. Hopefully I can make that extra ball and try not to let him dictate with his defence.”
The damaged hip, the damaged courts, the hot conditions thus far, Querrey feels all combine to make the Scot “maybe slightly” more vulnerable. “But a lot of times those shock losses seem to come early in events. He’s played four matches now. I’ve got to assume he’s feeling good, confident, and ready to go.”
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