Tennis: British press failed to appreciate joke

You have to feel for Andy Murray.

The great tennis hope of a desperate British public and media lives his life in a goldfish bowl.

Even a world away in Auckland to play the Heineken Open he cannot escape.

A throwaway line after his first round win over Dane Kenneth Carlsen has stirred the British press and led to a host of unwanted messages and calls to the 18-year-old Scot.

After his 7-5, 6-2 win over Carlsen on Monday, Murray, in a brief televised on-court interview, jokingly said (of the first set): "We were playing like women."

The remark was pounced on by the British media at home who made a meal of it.

After blowing his chance of reaching the singles quarter-finals in losing 3-6, 6-7 (4-7) to fifth seed Mario Ancic yesterday, a perplexed Murray was at a loss to explain the reaction at home.

Asked whether he had enjoyed his time here and with it the chance to get away from the constant media glare, Murray said that had not been the case because of the reaction to his glib remark.

"I'm not allowed to make a joke. It is a bit unfair how I'm treated. I thought it was a joke," said Murray. "I got calls and messages. I would rather not to have to worry about things like that.

"It is disappointing."

He certainly deserves better.

In his time here he has been most obliging even to the extent of giving an extra television interview - which he did not have to do - to the host broadcaster.