Andy Murray had a message for those piling pressure on Laura Robson at Wimbledon: “Just let her enjoy it.”
It was the Scot’s parting shot as he headed to the locker rooms after a relaxed hour’s practice with Kyle Edmund at the All England Club.
Making the second week for Murray has become routine the only time he has lost before the fourth round was when he was 18 but having a home woman at this stage is a novelty.
Not since Sam Smith in 1998 have Britain’s women hit such heights, and it is likely to be Robson’s face not Murray’s that is splashed all over the papers.
Murray has waited a long time for someone to share the limelight, and not being the story in the first week has suited the US Open champion just fine.
Robson meets unseeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi with a likely quarter-final against Serena Williams a tantalising prospect and Murray, who plays Russian Mikhail Youzhny, insists Robson should be able to play without external pressure to do even better.
He said: “I think you just concentrate on one match. She’s 19 years old, so just give her a bit of time to enjoy her tennis.”
Murray was back in his usual Wimbledon attire of T-shirt and shorts after donning a suit and tie on Saturday.
Murray took his place among other Olympic champions in the Royal Box. The 26-year-old was not able to stay long but received a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd.
He wrote in his BBC column: “To get all those athletes in one place at the same time outside of a major competition was a pretty good effort, and it was nice to see people like Sir Chris Hoy and Anthony Joshua again.
“It did mean I had to rush from practising at Aorangi Park to Centre Court, grab a shower and put on a suit, and there were a few nervous moments when I cut myself shaving. A bit of tissue paper did the trick though I think I got away with it!
“The reception I got was pretty special and the level of support here is just incredible.”
Next up for Murray today is a fourth-round clash against 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny, who he has beaten in both their previous meetings, although they have not played for four years.
Murray will be the big favourite, as he will in all his matches until the final, but Youzhny is a talented grass-court player.
“It’s a tough match,” said Murray.
“He made the quarters last year and he was in the final in Halle he likes the grass.
“Players who are used to playing on the clay courts don’t tend to move as well on grass, they tend to struggle a bit when you get them on the run, whereas the guys that move well on the grass and are used to the surface, they can get themselves out of tough positions on the court and they can extend the rallies a little bit longer.
“They tend to hit the ball a bit flatter so it doesn’t sit up as much and that’s why it’s tough.”
Youzhny, who has been coached by Boris Sobkin for the last 20 years, has a reputation for getting angry on court, famously needing treatment for a cut to his head after smashing it with his racket in Miami five years ago.
At the French Open, the 31-year-old destroyed a racket during his defeat by Tommy Haas, but Murray insists he is a very different character off court.
The Scot said: “He’s actually a very nice guy. His coach is a really good guy, too, it’s a pretty cool relationship they’ve got.”
Murray missed the French Open because of a back problem, which meant he began playing on grass earlier than usual, and he is on a 14-match winning streak on the surface.
But he does not believe that has given him any advantage here, saying: “I don’t think the way I’m playing has anything to do with that extra time.
“Normally by the time Wimbledon would come round, I felt pretty good coming into the tournament most years.
“I think it helped me at Queen’s, for sure. But I’d much rather have been at the French Open than laying around for 10 days doing nothing.
“I would have much rather been there than hitting on the grass.”