Tennis: Murray detects British buzz ahead of Wimbledon with 15 locals in singles' draw

Andy Murray at a practice session on June 25, 2016, at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in Wimbledon. PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS) - World No. 2 Andy Murray believes he might not be the only British tennis player to thrive at this year's Wimbledon and has backed some of the other 14 local hopefuls to make their mark at the grass-court Grand Slam.

Murray, who has long been the sole focus of hopes of British success at the All England Club, is almost certain to reduce that number by one when he meets English wild card Liam Broady in the first round of the men's singles.

Another wild card James Ward might not last long either, having drawn world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

Murray's brother Jamie, however, will be looking for a second Grand Slam doubles title of the year with Brazilian Bruno Soares, while Dominic Inglot won a doubles title with Canadian Daniel Nestor in Nottingham earlier this month.

"With 15 British players involved in the singles competitions at Wimbledon this year and the recent success in doubles for my brother Jamie and Dominic Inglot, it does feel like there's a bit of a feel-good factor around British tennis at the moment," Murray wrote in a BBC column.

"Don't get me wrong, it's not perfect, but this tournament is a big chance for some of them to make their mark and you just hope they do themselves justice, because it's tough working your way up through the rankings."

Among others from the country, British women's No. 1 Johanna Konta has been seeded 16th, while Heather Watson and Naomi Broady are in also in the women's main draw.

Murray, who lifted a record fifth Queen's title earlier this month, has been reunited with Ivan Lendl, the former Czech great who coached him to Wimbledon glory in 2013.

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