Eddie Barnes: Murray's my mate

In the Scotsman office this morning we were laying bets....which party would win the "I-Want-To-Be-Andy-Murray's-Best-Friend" award?

Labour. Literally less than a minute after he won this morning, this press release landed in the e-mail box.

"Scottish Labour's congratulated Scots tennis ace Andy Murray for his magnificant victory today which secures his place in the final of Australian Open (Murray 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-2 Cilic)

Sports spokesman Frank McAveety is getting behind Murray's bid for his first Grand Slam title.

Mr McAveety said: "This is an outstanding win for Andy Murray against a great opponent Marin Cilic and we hope that he can keep the momentum going in the final. It would be a tremendous and well-deserved achievement for Andy to win his first Grand Slam title. He is a world-class athlete and a great Scottish ambassador for sport and I am sure the whole of Scotland will be cheering him on to victory in the final." "

For the record, Alex Salmond came in with his praise a few minutes later. However, neither the Tories nor the LibDems have yet declared whether they too think Andy Murray winning a tennis match was a good thing.

Meanwhile, in his post-match press conference on the Rod Laver court in Melbourne, Murray reflected: "It couldn't have been better that this. I played really well and to finish Cilic off quickly like that in the fourth set meant I was able to get back into the Locker room in time to watch First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Tennis might be entertaining but it just pales in comparison to Holyrood's cut and thrust."

UPDATE: I am now informed that LibDem MSP Iain Smith may have beaten MacAveety to it. He raised Murray's victory in the chamber, having been following the score on his BlackBerry.