Andy Murray having to remind sports journalists (again) that women exist

[SueMacartney]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jamiemacc_/status/885189154128224257

From his post-match interview after losing to Querrey today.

He's called out journalists before and no doubt will have to again. (Side note - does any other high profile male do this? In any field?) Relieved to hear it wasn't John Inverdale this time.

It's just struck me though, these journalists have sat and followed the women's matches because that's their job and they know who's won what, who's in which match, the stats etc and yet STILL they completely disregard them.

How can we increase the prominence of women's sport to the wider public if the journalists themselves, who are one of the links between the public and the sport, write female athletes off as irrevelant? Just reinforces the message that they're not important.

Is this the quote you meant, whoputthecatout?

“A lot of athletes will be disingenuous and show you the best sides of themselves and then behind the scenes they’re not all they’re cracked up to be,” said Roddick. “He’s kind of the opposite.”

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/andymurray/12125711/Andy-Murray-admits-hes-dealt-with-events-off-the-court-better-than-those-on-them-at-Australian-Open.html

There was a programme recently about tennis starts and it showed that Andy Murray makes a point of training and warming up with junior players which is a great thing for the aspiring youngsters. Just an all round good guy. Am I the only one that finds his moody media face very appealing?

I take back a negative comment I recently made about him (a bit of a grumpy bugger). He has gone up vastly in my estimation. Fair play to him.

Giddy. You are not alone

amithatbloodycold

I know Birds- my point was that the LTA needed a new way of thinking, not the Murrays! And that maybe AM was hesitant to get involved as he'd seen what happened with his brother! Sorry if I was unclear.

giddy I have never found him more attractive than in that last interview.

I also loved Serena's response when she was asked why she wasn't smiling after winning. Grumpy tennis players are clearly the ones we love!

He genuinely gets it - he was talking about scheduling putting women on lesser courts as standard and how changing the timings could mean women could either play longer matches (and get more air time) or get placed on better courts (and get more air time).

Oh sorry green. As the mum of a ds who plays tennis, my view of the Lta is not a positive one. I get as grumpy as Murray about it sometimes

What's the problem with the lta? I don't even really know what they do, can someone explain?

Though you all might like this
mobile.twitter.com/andy_murray/status/548285821326217216?lang=en

Thanks eWhereYouLeftit It could well have been that quote.

Love Andy Murray -knew nothing about him but he's completely unwavering. And the way he challenges is so despairing I love it

He's really grown on me over the past year or so actually. I find his 'grumpiness' quite amusing - that Christmas jumper picture made me howl I love a dry sense of humour.

Sue the lta is the lawn tennis association , it is basically responsible for tennis in the Uk. It governs development coaching etc, you can't really play tennis at any level without being a member of the lta. My experience of tennis for children in this country has not been good. Actually that's not fair, some of the local clubs are very good and basically run by volunteers. There appears from my point of view to be a complete lack of organisation and drive from the Lta . The Murray's are critical too . It is no coincidence in my view that the only champion we have managed to produce was trained abroad as his mum was so frustrated with UK tennis .

Birds what makes the LTA so bad? I've heard quite a bit of criticism but never really got to the bottom of it

I have watched the latest moody clip several times now. Somebody stop me! Hearing about Venus being fined for not doing an interview within an hour of her match sheds more light on the players moods now. They are legally bound to speak to press/media within one hour under the conditions of a grand slam apparently.

It must be so annoying for the players. Dozens of presenters and journos asking the same stupid questions. Over and over again after every match.

Thanks for the link OP. He comes across as being a true pro.

John Inverdale should have been sacked years ago.

I'm particularly interested in this question and quote of Murray's.

On whether his growing family would be a "distraction".

Well, I mean, I've had a family the whole time I've been playing tennis, so yeah, I'll be fine dealing with that

It sounds like the sort of question that (some) men wish they could ask professional women in job interviews if they have children. The "how committed can you be to your job/the company if you have young DC who might get ill/have school holidays/take up some of your time and attention". It's quite unusual for a man to be asked this.

Now, was the journalist asking this because he thinks that Andy might have his sleep disturbed and be tired for training? Is there an assumption that, because he's a top tennis player, he should be exempt from having to deal with night waking, lest he be tired? Is his job just too important to be risked by unnecessary things like dealing with his own DC?

Which, if it is that, how ridiculous is that. I mean, it's important that train drivers aren't sleep deprived, or surgeons, or pilots, as concentration is crucial. But playing tennis isn't life or death. The suggestion that it might be an issue if he has babies and is tired, because tennis is such an Important Job, so maybe he should have considered this further, is ridiculous.

(ps I love Andy Murray, and think his response is spot on)

Good ole Andy!

Sadly, without decent men like him on board there's very little chance of changing the status quo.

I hope someone on his PR team googles him and finds this thread.

Datum. I hope they do too. Mumsnet seems to be very pro-Andy

Although funnily enough the worst crap I've heard about him has come from the DM (I challenged, they banned
Me) BBC sport Facebook comments and here on the Telly Addicts thread.

Even yesterday there was a comment from a prolific poster thread prefect that she didn't like Kim Murray as she never smiles. I mean WTAF

As a new mum it's very possible that Kim is a mumsnetter!