Fan Club: The good, the bad, and the crazy

Sometimes, being a manic fan can the most rewarding affliction in the world.  Waving the Swiss flag in 2006, cheering on Novak Djokovic in 2011 in mispronounced Serbian, raising a knee and fist in time with Nadal in 2010; all good.  At some point, though, things take a turn for the worse.  Supporting Federer now without losing your dignity?  It’d be easier to show more grace running naked up the street.  Vamosing on Nadal can’t be easy either, and yelling for Murray?  Well, who said that’s ever been anything but bad news?  But heartbreak won’t stop a true fan.  These are the people that admit they’re a little obsessive, that take the good times with the bad, and don’t stop being crazy for their player just because times are tough.  Chances are, we all have a little mad fan in us. Every week we take a look at one high-profile fan and analyze just how crazy they are...

Today we bring you Liz, a woman who bravely rides the Murraycoaster.

The Short

Name:  Liz 
Age:  40-something!
Country:  UK (England)
Occupation:  Accountant
Twitter handle:  @lizcurran
Has been spotted drooling over:  Andy Murray

The Good

Like most British tennis fanatics, Wimbledon featured strongly in Liz’s childhood and the final of the Slam was a family affair where everyone would get together and bemoan the lack of a British champion.  Liz followed the frustrating career of Tim Henman for years before she laid eyes on an altogether more talented and exciting British hope, an 18 year old Andy Murray.  When Murray made the final of the US Open and grabbed London headlines, Liz decided to dive into a full-on tennis obsession and subscribed to Sky Sports.  As she got to know Murray, she fell deeper in love and now describes the range of emotions she feels while watching his matches as a ‘Murraycoaster.’  

Liz may have suffered her share of heartbreak in the five years she’s dedicated herself to the Scot, but she thinks she’s a better person for it.  “I admire and am inspired by his focus and dedication to his ‘work’.  I am in awe of him and I try to take on a little bit of that myself,” she says, adding that others can be a jealous of her obsession with tennis, “People often comment on how passionate I am about watching tennis, and Andy in particular, and they say it inspires them to think about what is important to them in their lives too.” 

The Bad

Liz may hold a candle for Murray, but she admits she often resents the success of his main rivals: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer.  Liz doesn’t hesitate to share that Federer, (who is arguably Murray’s biggest critic), grinds her gears, and she possesses only lukewarm feelings for the current world number one, Djokovic.  She says she likes Nadal, but is quick to add that she’s happy to see him lose, “Seriously, I think it’s good to have healthy competition and I think it is good for the game that Roger and even Rafa are starting to lose more often…  Personally I think Roger has won quite enough tournaments now, he should step aside!” she only half-jokes.  Still, it’s hard to blame Liz for begrudging the top three, and she redeems herself when she adds that watching Murray play Djokovic at the Australian Open this year was one of the greatest experiences of her life, despite the heartbreaking loss.

The Crazy

When it comes to Murray, Liz might admit to being a bit of a ‘cougar.’  Despite being a touch older than him, Liz doesn’t hold back when asked if she finds Murray sexually appealing, “Over the last couple of years he has really transformed his body into something quite amazing and I think he has become a very handsome young man now,” she gushes.  Whilst many tennis fans are repelled by the Scot’s lack of a tan and pointy teeth, Liz only sees the best physical qualities Murray has to offer, “His face lights up beautifully when he smiles,” she sighs.  Asked if there is anything she doesn’t like about Murray, the answer is an emphatic “NO!”

Liz decided to follow Murray over to Australia this year, despite being extremely busy at work.  She had no real interest in travelling and seeing Australia, she just wanted to watch Murray play tennis, and watch Murray play tennis she did; Liz snagged tickets to all six of his matches and attended every open practise session he played.  She wore her custom-made “I <3 Andy” t-shirt at every opportunity, the same t-shirt she’s worn when attending any Murray match.  Thanks in part to the distinctive t-shirt, Liz believes that Murray might know who she is, “I have met him to have my photo taken and to get autographs and wish him well during tournaments.  He’s always polite and I think he recognises me now.”

Whether Murray quite understands just how much Liz adores him remains to be seen.

Liz’s favourite Murray video clip

How crazy is she?
Liz’s self-rating: 3.5 
Our rating: 4*

*

1= Misses the occasional match

2= Has to explain to romantic partners that ‘tennis comes first’

3= Has been known to sacrifice basic life materials (food/water) to watch said player

4= Has drafted a biography on said player

5= Verging on stalker