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ANDY MURRAY yesterday declared if he wins Wimbledon it will have absolutely nothing to do with luck.
He revealed he feels the same as WBA heavyweight champion David Haye, who does not believe good fortune plays any part in the quest for glory.
This weekend could be massive for the sporting pals.
On Saturday night Haye steps out to face Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko - who holds the IBF and WBO heavyweight titles - in their unification fight.
Around 16 hours later, Murray, 24, could be going into battle against the biggest hitter of them all in tennis, Roger Federer, in the men's final at SW19.
Smash Plenty of people will be wishing Murray luck as he faces Feliciano Lopez today, with reigning champion and world No.1 Rafa Nadal his likely opponent in the semi-finals.
But just like Haye, the Scot thinks luck is a four-letter word and in sport there is no substitute for hard work.
"I've kept in touch with David, I find it really helpful for my game," said Murray. "I haven't texted him 'good luck' - that isn't something you send a boxer. They don't believe in luck.
"There was something on Twitter wishing me good luck and he sent me a message saying 'there's no luck in sport'.
"So no good-luck messages, but I'll send him a message a bit closer to the fight.
"It'll be more like 'I hope you smash him in' - that is more like what you say to a boxer. Wishing someone good luck is just something people say to be polite. To me, the people that are the best prepared and put the work in deserve to win.
"There is that saying, 'the harder I work, the luckier I get'. And I think that's how it works.
"If you put everything in on the practice court and when you're training then you get a little bit of 'luck' along the way."
At Wimbledon today - and yesterday - it's a story of the Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman.
Yesterday golf's US Open champion Rory McIlroy was at SW19 to meet Murray.
Today 2008 Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton - who, like Murray, is represented by super-agent Simon Fuller - will be at the All England Club to cheer him on against Spaniard Lopez.
The pressure's sure to start cranking up on Murray now.
With Nadal and Federer both proving they were human after all on Monday - both dropped their first sets of the tournament on the day he cruised through against Richard Gasquet - belief is growing across the nation that Murray can become the first British winner in the men's singles for 75 years.
Murray insisted he was getting stronger in the mind as he has matured. "The mental side of the game is something that I've consciously tried to improve and it also comes a little easier as you get older," he said.
"The most important thing is to stay calm when you're in the crunch time of a match and being tested physically and mentally."
Shock Meanwhile, teen sensation Bernard Tomic - the youngest player to reach the men's quarter-finals since Boris Becker - was backed to pull off a major shock today by beating second seed Novak Djokovic.
Two-times finalist Pat Rafter said of the 18-yearold Aussie: "He is on a great streak and I give him a very good chance because grass is not Djokovic's best surface.
"Bernard is tough in the head and knows how to find a way. He believes in himself and believes he can win every match he plays."
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