"It's what you work for"

28 January, 2010 | 14:01

For the first time since September 2008 - and only the second time ever - Andy will contest a grand slam final this Sunday.

Once again, a British player has the chance to end a 74 year wait for one of the games biggest prizes, and that hasn't been lost on the movers and shakers back home.

Amongst the first to offer their congratulations were Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Scotland first minister Alex Salmond: "I hope he wins this," said the PM. "It would be great news. He's a great tennis player and a great guy."

There have been frustrations since that US Open final against Roger Federer, but after coming through against Cilic with flying colours Andy was quick to recognise the significance of this latest milestone.

"It's really important," he said. "After last year I had a few tough losses in the Grand Slams."

"It's what you work for," he added."It's why at the end of the season I go to train in Miami to try and give myself the opportunity to play in these slams."

Pic: 'The shot' gets the crowd out of their seats.

And then there were those two sublime shots to consider. The first - an outrageous forehand pass to break Cilic in the second set - looked like a game changer, and Andy agreed.

"It was really important," he said "I don't want to say the match was slipping away from me, but the momentum was definitely with him."

It's not unknown for him to attempt those round-the-corner shots in practice, and they often come off. But with that much on the line?

"It doesn't happen that often," Andy said modestly. "It comes off a few times in matches, but that's probably the most important time probably."

"I guess when you practice it, Miles or whoever it's with, knows it's coming because I do practice it a lot, when it goes over my head, sometimes on the backhand side, as well"

And now we wait for the final against either Roger Federer or Tsonga. And this time, he'll actually get some proper rest beforehand. No wonder he's feeling good.

"This time's obviously going to be different," said Andy. "Hopefully I'll play better. I'm sure I will."