You want pressure. Oliver Golding has pressure. The former start British childhood actor is now the US Open Juniors Champion,defeating his doubles partner and No. 1 seed Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic, in a stirring 5-7,6-3,6-4 rain delayed win.
A British junior named Andy Murray was the last Brit to win the event,winning it in 2004. And Murray has ridden the burden of an entire nation since that win and has still yet to win a Major.
Golding had a few outbursts of temper in the match,but quickly regained his composure.
Seeded no. 13 entering the event, Golding had to play 8 singles and doubles matches in the last 4 days due to the rain at the Open. He survived.
The 18-year old was the star of the highly successful Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby and looked like he was headed for a career as a great actor, when he shifted focus a few years back and concentrated on tennis.
It has been a long time since Fred Perry last won the US Open in 1936,his third title and England has watched the exploits of Tim Henman and Andy Murray since then both at the Open and Wimbledon. Such a quest has kept Neil Harman of The Times in England globetrotting in search of another British champion. Harman is perhaps the best tennis journalist in the world.
Golding has the game to make it to the top, but as Murray has proven winning junior championships does not guarantee Grand Slam winners.