Highland Spring Comp

09 July, 2008 | 15:07

Just before Wimbledon, a lucky lady called Linda Gill won a Highland Spring competition to play alongside Jamie.

Here's her account of the day:

"It’s a wonderful thing when an occasion exceeds your wildest expectations!  I was lucky enough to win a competition where the prize was a ‘game’ of tennis with Wimbledon Mixed Doubles Champion, Jamie Murray.

Later, I was informed that I would have some coaching initially with Judy Murray and that later Jamie would join the group.  More conversations and more emails and things develop further….. would it be Roehampton or Nottingham for this momentous event?

Finally, things are decided and I’m told the complete package – travel to London, an overnight stay the Grosvenor Hotel before going to the National Tennis Centre to meet Judy around 1 pm.  All expenses paid.  I’m also allowed to take someone with me, so husband Barry is the obvious choice – mainly to get photographic evidence of my big moment!

At this stage I still imagine I am part of a group who will have Judy coach us for a while before Jamie appears – maybe then I will get a chance to meet him, say hello, have a photo opportunity etc….. and if I’m really lucky hit a few tennis balls with him.

In fact, the whole day was a wonderful experience and far exceeded my hopes beforehand.  We decided to arrive early – around 10.30 am – and at first were simply pleased to be allowed in to the Centre.  Then we were told that Wimbledon Qualifiers were taking place and that we could wander around and watch them at our leisure.

Around 12.00 pm, Judy Murray first greeted us – I guess we were easy enough to spot.  (We were little more mature than the average tennis player on show and with only one tennis raquet in hand!)

She showed us the cafeteria area, invited us to have whatever food or drink we wished and simply put it on her bill.  She had meetings to attend to but would be back to meet us around 1 pm.  By then it was established that there was no ‘group’ to be coached, only me.  Oh dear……. I love my tennis, but I’ve never been coached in my life.  Twenty years of bad habits accumulated where my sole intention is just to hit the ball back over the net. 

We met again at 1pm in the cafeteria and whilst chatting with Judy, Jamie did appear and was invited by mum Judy to come over and say hello to us.  I had promised myself not to mention the hair.  I didn’t….. but it was amusing to hear Judy tell him about what court we were going to, how he should join us later and by the way….maybe get a haircut!

For the coaching session, we decided to concentrate mostly on volleys.  Judy was able to give me many pieces of advice, she was very encouraging with her comments and above all she was simply so generous with her time – I now see what a huge difference some basic coaching can make to someone’s game – even when I had previously thought that it would be wasted on me!

We did practice some serving as well and one day soon, I hope to incorporate all her words of wisdom into my weekly Club Sessions.

One to one coaching with Judy Murray, for over an hour, is pretty special in itself but then Jamie duly appeared.  Judy suggested we play a mixed doubles – although my husband didn’t have a raquet – she felt sure that Jamie would have a spare he could use!

Initially, we had a warm up session with me hitting against Jamie – and yes of course I tried my very best to return every ball.  I did even try just ‘stretching’ him a little… changing from forehand to backhand and making him move a bit.  Of course by then Barry and Judy were knocking up – but I could only concentrate on my own shots and really barely noticed what they were doing.

Then it was time for the game – Jamie was now my partner.  Barry started serving first – I don’t remember every point, I don’t even remember how the game scoring actually went, but we did end up at 6 – 6.

What I do remember is – how much fun it was….how easy it was to be playing with both Judy and Jamie Murray…. Jamie would check if I needed a ball when I was serving;  Jamie would say ‘good shot’ occaionally;  we would even ‘high five’ at times!!! I could have been playing with my own son.  My overriding memory is how friendly and generous these people were.

Playing with Jamie as a partner was a truly memorable experience for me and also for my husband who had to serve against him.

As for the tie-break, Jamie and I won it quite comfortably 7 – 1.   I was fairly confident we would – you don’t get to be Wimbledon Champion without a competitive streak that must show itself in every game.

It was now back to the Cafeteria for a well earned drink and sit down.  Yet again, I was surprised that the four of us could sit around chatting about Andy’s thumb or the state of British tennis etc.  Judy then very kindly produced some gifts as souvenirs for the day – from Andy – a signed photo, a baseball cap and one of his mascot teddy bears.

A photo of Jamie too, which he signed for me and a tennis ball from our session that they both signed.  Of course by now, we also had a number of our own photos taken with them both, so I have plenty of tangible things to remind me of a truly fantastic time spent at the NTC with Jamie and Judy Murray.

It’s a wonderful thing when an occasion exceeds your wildest expectations!"