HOT-BLOODED ANDY MURRAY

JUDY MURRAY will have a fiendish job getting the blood out of Andy's shorts - but she won't have any sweat and tears to cope with.

Her son's kit was splattered with claret after a spot of self-abuse during the British No 1's breeze into the final of the Aegon Championships.

But that was the only sign of a battle on the lawns of Queen's as Murray laid down yet another marker for his Wimbledon assault.

This is an Andy Murray unrecognisable from 12 months ago. Gone is the second serve that would be laughed off the women's court. Gone are the physical problems that plagued his developing body. And gone - despite the rap across his own knuckles - is the suspect temperament. Or at least it has when he is in this form.

The statistics are impressive. Today will see him appear in his FIFTH ATP World Tour final this year, chasing his FOURTH title.

It will be his first on grass but, let's face it, the prospect of Murray becoming the first Brit to win here since Bunny Austin 71 years ago is merely a sub-plot to the main storyline starting in another London suburb a week tomorrow. With Rafa Nadal limping into his defence and Roger Federer still giddy after his French Open heroics, Murray, 22, is barrelling towards favouritism for the Wimbledon crown.

And despite his serenity on the court, you suspect the burden of expectation is already weighing on his shoulders.

He said: "That's a problem a lot of people have in this country. They expect huge things - thinking that it is just going to happen.

"It's all hype and if you get caught up, it becomes an issue. But I'm thinking about the next match - not about a Wimbledon final. Pressure at the tournament is not a problem because I expect a lot of myself."

But everything suggests he is better equipped to deal with the hype and hoop-la that besieges a British contender at SW19.

Also gone is the surliness that once infused every Murray Press conference.

He was positively rabbiting here and added: "I've played very well this week I'm feeling confident. But you have to be careful. Just because I'm playing great this week doesn't mean I can't go into Wimbledon and play terrible."

There seems little chance of that. Murray today faces James Blake and he should be inconvenienced little more than he was during the 6-2, 6-4 romp against an outclassed Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Buzzed

Just before the knock-up, the Red Arrows buzzed overhead after dipping their wings down the road at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Queen's birthday.

On the Queen's grass, Murray's fly-past against the Spaniard was almost as brief and decisive. A spot of turbulence at the start of the second set - which prompted his blood-drawing racket punch - was settled by a few thunderous serves and, after that, the landing was always going to be smooth.

Much like his display afterwards, watched by David Beckham's Press adviser, who smiled when Murray revealed he had yet to be offered a tennis shoe deal.

There will be no shortage of them in three weeks' time if Murray remains in this imperious vein of form.

And the Beckham camp will have two sets of Goldenballs on their books.

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