Federer in a kilt rocks Murray in Scotland

Glasgow, November 8

Scottish tennis hero Andy Murray played his first match after Wimbledon last night, that too in Glasgow, but Roger Federer managed to steal the show from him.

Federer helped Murray back in his comeback by playing in a charity match titled “Andy Murray Live”, the Swiss taking the match 6-3 3-6 10-6. The match was played seriously, but not too seriously — there was a break for an interview with Federer after he’d won the first set, and he said he’d be willing to play in a Scottish kilt if one was available. 

Later, a woman in the crowd gave Federer the kilt she had been wearing herself, and Federer played a few points in it. Murray himself played some points wearing a traditional Scottish tartan hat gifted to him by Federer.

Speaking about playing in a tartan kilt, Federer said: “What impressed me was how quickly the kilt was organised. When I took it off I felt naked because it was nice and snug and heavy.”

‘Andy should get fit’

Speaking before the match, Federer said it would be best for Murray if he got fully fit before making a comeback on the pro tour. “My best advice is just to get fit again. Take your time, however long it takes,” he said. “When you come back you want to be at 100 percent, otherwise the problem is you feel you just can’t beat the best at the big tournaments, so it’s wise and worthwhile to take the extra week, extra month maybe.”

As for his first public match after Wimbledon, Murray said: “It went better than I expected. I was just really happy to be out here and it went pretty well. There are things I want to do better but, for a first match in four or five months, it went great. I felt pretty good, not perfect yet, but I’m going in the right direction.” — Agencies