Andy Murray bows to pressure, and the Queen

Protocol: Murray will follow the example of Virginia Wade in 1977, the last time the Queen attended Wimbledon

Andy Murray today bowed to public pressure — and admitted he would acknowledge the Queen when he plays in front of her on Centre Court.

The British No 1 stirred controversy by suggesting he may stray from protocol when the monarch visits the All England Club for the first time in 33 years.

She was last there in 1977, when Virginia Wade won the women's singles.

He initially said he would have to "wait and see" when asked whether he would bow when she takes to the royal box on Thursday. He then repeatedly refused to commit himself.

But today, the 23-year-old is understood to have told senior figures at Wimbledon that he will stick to the unwritten rule which asks women players to curtsey and men to bow shortly after they take to the court.

A spokesman for Murray said: "Andy will bow, he was just a little unsure about the new protocol."

Murray, seeded fourth in this year's two-week tournament, will have to beat World No 80 Jan Hajek, of the Czech Republic in his first-round match tomorrow to earn the right to walk out on Centre Court two days later to play either Finland's Jarkko Nieminen or Austria's Stefan Koubek.

Tim Phillips, the All England Lawn Tennis club chairman, said: "The players who will be presented to the Queen have been told that it would be hugely appreciated if they would either bow or curtsey because it is Her Majesty in the royal box.

"You cannot force anybody to do anything but the players I have spoken to are all very excited, delighted and very pleased to be meeting the Queen."

Previously Murray said: "It should be personal preference. I'll have a chat with the guys. I don't want to be bowing and the person I'm playing with walks straight past — or the other way around. You obviously have to have an agreement before you go on."

Bowing or curtseying to the Queen or members of the royal family was expected at Wimbledon until the club relaxed the custom in 2003. It then suggested that a formal gesture to the box would still be appropriate if the Queen or senior members of the family were present.

Murray was put to shame by international players who agreed to either bow or curtsey and went a step further saying they would be "honoured" to do so.

Serena Williams revealed she had been practising. "I've been working on my curtsey. It's a little extreme — I get very low," she said.
Former champion Rafael Nadal said he would bow, saying: I respect everything."

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