Queen Elizabeth will finally return to Wimbledon

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who has not attended Wimbledon since 1977, will at last return to the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament which takes place at The All England Club.

The queen has been a no-show since the year she presented British player Virginia Wade with the women’s trophy 33 years ago. It was the last time one of her subjects – male or female – took the title. No British man has won the tournament since Fred Perry back in 1936!

The United Kingdom actually has a realistic chance of crowning a men’s champion if fourth-ranked Andy Murray finally lives up to expectations. He made the semifinals last year and was runner-up to Roger Federer at this year’s Australian Open and at the 2008 US Open.

I think it’s got the makings of a fairy tale script and I’m going to predict right now that Murray will win the title. He’ll probably have to get by six-time champion Roger Federer and possibly 2008 winner Rafael Nadal but I just have a feeling about this.

It’s not easy for British stars at Wimbledon because in addition to having to deal with the competition, they are also carrying the hopes of an entire nation on their shoulders. Murray has wilted to this pressure in the past but last year he was simply outplayed by Andy Roddick in the semifinals.

Retired star Tim Henman made the semis four times between 1998 and 2002 and each time he won or lost, it was front page news.