Sunday, July 10, 2016

Andy Murray"s Wimbledon win lifts spirits as UK still grapples with Brexit aftermath


2016, Day 11 Highlights, Andy Murray vs Tomas Berdych

Updated July 11, 2016 07:06:31

Andy Murray"s second finals win at Wimbledon has been a sliver of good news for a country still digesting the consequences of the Brexit vote.

His victory against Canadian sixth seed Milos Raonic thrilled crowds who watched it on a big screen near Tower Bridge in London.

When Andy Murray won Wimbledon for the first time in 2013, he carried the expectations of a nation that had waited 77 years for a British male champion.

This time, some were suggesting he could finally lift much of the UK from the sense of chaos it fell into after the historic vote on June 23.

Even some of those who voted to have the UK leave the European Union have been surprised at the continuing fallout.

Jackie Anderson and her husband Robin were on holidays from Bridge of Allan in Scotland, close to Murray"s childhood home of Dunblane, to watch Murray win.

"Very exciting as he"s a local boy and we"re big fans of his," Mr Anderson said.

"It"ll be fantastic for the community."

But on the subject of Brexit Mr Anderson was less positive.

"Utterly chaotic and frightening," he said when asked about the mood of the country.

His wife is hopeful that with a new prime minister, there"ll be more positive signs ahead, but said it was too soon to tell.

University graduates Ben Owens and Stephen Hedges, both 21, are flatmates and on opposite sides of the EU vote.

Mr Owens voted for the UK to leave the EU.

"I"m a bit surprised at how this thing has gone. It"s worldwide news. It"s constantly on the news for two weeks," he said.

Mr Hedges voted in.

"I"m surprised at the level of uncertainty that"s been generated to a certain extent," he said.

"It"s a tough time ahead for the UK. But I must say there is a hope of optimism. Maybe we can weather the storm.

"It"s one of those things we"ve done it now, let"s not dwell on it and try to work for the best I think."

The mood in the UK two and a half weeks after Brexit depends on who you ask.

It was not missed that in his victory speech, Andy Murray mentioned Prime Minister David Cameron who was at Wimbledon and boos could be heard from the crowd.

Neil Jones from Southhampton in England"s south said it had all been overblown.

"I think it"s been a bit overhyped in the press and the media so we"re just getting on with what we"ve got to do," he said.

Mr Jones voted out and has had no second thoughts.

"Everything has calmed down and nothing is going to change for a few years, so I don"t see what the problem is."

Topics:world-politics,tennis,sport,united-kingdom

First posted July 11, 2016 06:24:32

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-11/andy-murray-wimbledon-win-lifts-spirits-in-post-brexit-uk/7584940

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