Andy Murray plays his opening match at Wimbledon feeling a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.
While Fred Perry remains the last British man to win the singles title at the All England Club, there will always be huge pressure on Murray, but the biggest hurdle in his career has already been overcome.
The Scot ended a 76-year wait for a British male grand slam singles champion at the US Open in New York last September, proving to himself and all his doubters that he could win one of the sport’s biggest prizes.
One of the first things coach Ivan Lendl told Murray after he lost last year’s Wimbledon final to Roger Federer was that he would never again play a match under so much pressure.
The world number two begins his campaign to go one better against Germany’s Benjamin Becker on Centre Court, and he told Press Association Sport: “There’s definitely less pressure.
“I’d lost a few tough grand slam finals and it’s nice to know I’ll never have to worry about answering that question again. Of course there’s always pressure but I put less on myself now.
“I’d love to win Wimbledon but so would every single player. Just because I’m from the UK it’s still incredibly tough.
“I’ve got no more right than anyone else to win it but I’ve given myself the best preparation I can. Last year I played the best grass-court tennis of my career at Wimbledon.
“Every year it becomes a little bit more important for me. I’ve had some of my toughest losses here and some of my best wins.”
Last year’s Wimbledon final was the first instalment in a life-changing summer that also saw Murray win Olympic gold with victory over Federer on Centre Court.
And, although the Wimbledon match was the most high profile, it was the final in New York against Novak Djokovic that had Murray most anxious.
“I was definitely most nervous before the US Open final for whatever reason, but having had the experience of playing in a Wimbledon final definitely helped me for the Olympics,” he said.
“The Olympics was different as well because if you lose the final you get a silver medal and people are happy with that, it’s seen as an achievement. Whereas if you lose a grand slam final it’s viewed that you’ve failed.”
Murray has always been a man more prone to dwell on failure than success, but when tough moments arrive at SW19 this fortnight he will allow his mind to wander back to his golden summer.
“I don’t think about it too much but it is important to know that you managed to achieve that,” he said.
“If you’re struggling in matches you need to remember, and I think other players do maybe find it tougher closing out matches against you.”
Murray is one of seven British players in action on day one along with James Ward, Elena Baltacha, Anne Keothavong, Johanna Konta and, making their debuts, Kyle Edmund and Samantha Murray.
Murray will continue his support for the hospital treating his good friend Ross Hutchins, who is due to be in the Royal Box for the first day’s play today.
Murray will have the name of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, where Davis Cup doubles player Hutchins underwent six months of chemotherapy treatment, on his Wimbledon kit.
Murray donated his £73,000 winnings from his third title at Queen’s Club to the charity and was also the central figure in the Rally Against Cancer exhibition event that followed the final.
The British number one said: “Ross has been so brave throughout his diagnosis and treatment for cancer, and I want to support him, and the hospital which has been treating him, as much as I can.
“Last Sunday was a great day for so many reasons, winning the title then taking part in Rally Against Cancer, which has raised an amazing £250,000 so far.
“After Rally, the natural progression was Wimbledon, and the sleeve patch is just a small way I can show my support for Ross and the Royal Marsden and continue to raise awareness.”
