“I can cry like Roger, it’s just a shame I can’t play like him” – Andy Murray said during post match presentation at the 2010 Aussie Open final. A crying Andy Murray, who was carrying the loads of British hopes could not say more than three lines as he broke down in tears and though we were happy for Federer, we also cried a bit with Murray and felt sorry for the Super-Scot, who had ignited the hopes of his Grand Slam starved country – that yes, a Briton could get his hands over that holy grail of tennis, which has been elusive to them since 1936. But, more than those tears there was that latent agony boiling inside Murray that day, which brought forth the very human face of this Scot before us, who was desperate to do well for his nation. One of the most inspiring facets of any sport is that you do get your dues at times – yes, only if you believe in yourself and keep on grinding it out every time you get the opportunity. We saw Murray again with moist eyes on Friday, when he looked heavenwards after winning the stiff semi-final match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and thanked everyone presented in the crowd. Yes, here it is again and this time – the load of expectations would saw a multifold rise, when the Super-Scot will be up against Swiss Maestro Roger Federer for a Wimbledon title on Sunday.

If feisty fighters are the real entertainers of tennis, legends take it another level that inspire generations and reinstate that belief in us – that nothing is impossible. Your body starts to deceive your indefatigable spirit and gradually force you to believe that – yes you had your time or your time is up! But, such obvious realities do not apply on those, who keep their feet firmly on the ground, but always hold their head high to never ever distract from their aims. One of the greatest of all times – by any means, Roger Federer is an epitome of consistency and never-say-die spirit in the contemporary world of tennis. Now 30, While some of Federer’s peers have been lingering at the bottom of the rankings and struggling to maintain some sort of consistency on tour – this Swiss Maestro is right there defying all odds and getting on with his business – as usual. That probing serve and those mind-boggling backhand shots on both sides of the court – it takes years of rigorous practice to get even near to that immaculate precision, but when Roger does it – we feel, oh that’s pretty easy. Yes, this genius has taken this game to a whole new level and he forces us to believe that yes the meaning of the word “Perfect” does apply in our lives – we just need to believe in that.

Once again Murray will be carrying the hopes of his nation as he will try to become the first British man to win the Wimbledon trophy since Fred Perry did it way back in 1936. After earning a straight sets victory against Cilic in the fourth round, Murray faced a stiff challenge from David Ferrer in the fifth round. While first two sets saw the sheer dominance of Ferrer, the Scot regrouped nicely in the middle of the second-set and emerged victorious in the end. Murray made a fine start against Tsonga in the semi-final encounter, but he lost his concentration and then the third-set, but just when it looked that Tsonga might spoil it for the Scot, Murray regrouped nicely and won the contest in four sets.

After battling Xavier Malisse in four sets, Roger Federer has had an easy run against temperamental Russian Mikhail Youznhy in the quarterfinals. The Swiss met the defending champion in the semi-final and everybody expected him to feel some sort of pressure, but as he has done over the years, the Swiss made it look a bit easier in the end- as he sailed home in four sets. Gunning for his seventeenth Grand Slam title, Roger Federer is also aiming to restart his Wimbledon affair after three years.

In head-to-head, Murray has a slender lead against Federer with 8-7. Last time they met earlier this year in Dubai where Federer topped the Scot in straight sets. Interestingly, both contenders met twice in Major finals in 2008 US Open final and 2010 Aussie Open final – and on both occasions Federer got the better of Andy Murray. Well, this time the surface is different and Murray is also looking more resilient and focused – so it should not be an easy run for Federer.