The Murray brothers are going head-to-head again. Unlike their unseemly spat over Andy's decision not to risk his sore knee in Great Britain's ill-starred Davis Cup tie against Argentina last month, though, this is more like a friendly rivalry than a family feud.
Both brothers, their sponsors Highland Spring, Royal Bank of Scotland, Fred Perry and their management company Ace Group will all be donating £100 per ace they serve during this week's Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells.
Not surprisingly, given that competitive spirit runs in the family, they consider it a contest to see who can make the most for the charity. Andy, as Jamie is quick to point out, is already at advantage because he does not have to share serving duties with a doubles partner, though that has not stopped the younger brother from trying to gain an edge. "I was serving at targets this morning so I'll try to serve as many as possible," said Andy. "It's an incentive to serve better."
The banter and brotherly ribbing that we have come to expect from the pair of them cannot disguise the fact that they have recently been through rocky times. Jamie's very public criticism of his brother for not travelling to Buenos Aires on Davis Cup duty was interpreted as a crushing blow to the Murrays' relationship. It was never anything of the sort, which is why it took one phone call from Andy to Jamie - on the latter's 22nd birthday - to restore harmony in tennis' first family.
"Obviously Jamie was disappointed that I didn't play in the Davis Cup but, you know, I think now he understands my reasons," said Andy, who has enjoyed several more chats with Jamie since arriving in Southern California. "He doesn't need to be 100% happy with it; it's just understanding the way that I felt towards the tie in Argentina. Everyone in the team - not just Jamie - was disappointed that I didn't play. I'm just glad that it's just past by and everyone's calmed down about it. It seems like Jamie is much more relaxed about it now."
"I guess everyone has their ups and downs and I guess that was one of them but it's fine now. It's done," agreed Jamie, who will be playing doubles in Indian Wells with long-term partner Max Mirnyi. In an interesting twist, Andy will play doubles with Jamie's former partner Eric Butorac in an effort to get more match practice and, presumably, clatter down a few more aces in a good cause.
"I don't think there are too many families that have gone through their whole lives without arguing with each other," said Andy. "Me and Jamie - apart from this - since we have been on the tour together, we don't argue about things too often. It was just a one-off and it was made into being such a big deal. It's really not the best thing for your mum and your dad to read in the paper that you're fighting. We get on very well normally."
The pair will be on the same side of the court as part of their contribution to Sport Relief, for they will be auctioning off a chance to take them on in doubles. No doubt they will be a picture of togetherness - or maybe not. Brothers will be brothers, after all. As Jamie put it: "It wouldn't be much fun if everyone always got on."
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