RECORD numbers of workers are predicted to skip work today to watch tennis and enjoy the sunshine.
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RECORD numbers of workers are predicted to skip work today to watch tennis and enjoy the sunshine.
A combination of Murray Mania and continued good weather is likely to see people skive or slope off early.
Around 15million viewers are expected to tune into Andy Murray's Wimbledon semi-final battle against Andy Roddick later today.
And if Murray makes it through to Sunday's final, tickets could sell for £20,0000 each, making seats in the stands the most expensive ever for a sporting event in the UK.
As the countdown begins to the eagerly awaited match, bosses are in for a "black day" according to legal firm the Employment Law Advisory Services.
The Scots tennis ace's Centre Court showdown with Roddick and soaring temperatures heighten the "Friday Feeling".
And the phenomenon of workers not bothering to turn up for the last day of the week will cost business around £50million it is claimed.
Peter Mooney, of Elas, said: "We shouldn't underestimate the draw of the heatwave and Andy Murray reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
"Our evidence suggests that more and more workers see the good weather on a Friday afternoon as too good an opportunity to miss, and this combined with the tennis is not good for employers.
"We have estimated that the Friday Feeling already costs British business just over £50m a year, which all goes to form part of the overall £13billion cost of workplace absenteeism.
"We are predicting that today will be the worst ever case of Friday Feeling'."
It is billed as the "Battle of the Andys".
The Scot's supporters will be out on force both inside the court and on Murray Mound.
Murray's mother, Judy, offers fierce support during matches, usually side by side with Murray's girlfriend, Kim Sears.
And the 22-year-old star said his preparation for the showdown included watching clips of boxing and cage fighting.
Murray is a superb counter-puncher, returning serves with an incredible touch.
And his reactions will need to be razor sharp to cope with Roddick's thundering serve.
The 26-year-old American has the fastest serve ever recorded at the championships - 146mph in 2004.
Murray has a 6-2 winning record against his opponent.
While he is considered the up-and-coming star, Roddick is a well established figure on the tour.
He was a Wimbledon runner-up in 2004 and 2005 and is bidding to reach his third final.
The former world number one won the US Open in 2003.
Murray is looking for a place in the history books.
If he wins a place in the final he will be the first British man to make it since Henry "Bunny" Austin in 1938.
Roger Taylor made the semi finals twice, while Tim Henman played for a place in the final four times, most recently in 2002 against Australian Lleyton Hewitt. But neither of them made it to the final.
At 6ft 3in Murray is an inch taller than his rival. And he has another advantage. The world number three eased through his quarter final against Juan Carlos Ferrero in three straight sets.
Roddick, now ranked world number six, had to battle it out against Hewitt in a five set epic.
He says he is in better shape than he was in his early 20s and he is by no means an old man.
But Murray, now known as one of the fittest men on the tour, will be hoping he has more running in his legs.
Both men are keen users of the micro-blogging site Twitter.
Roddick at least beats Murray in that regard, having "tweeted" about twice as many times during the tournament.
Victory 'could be worth £100m'
VICTORY in Sunday's final could lead to Murray netting £100milllion.
It would open the floodgates for potential earnings which could see him become the highest-paid sportsman in the country.
If Murray wins he could rake in the cash over the coming years from the sport, sponsorship, TV adverts and other endorsements.
Already he has been splashing the cash as he has just bought a £5m house near Wimbledon to share with girlfriend Kim Sears.
PR guru Max Clifford said: "If Andy wins it, he will enter the elite superstar class. In the next five or six years, he could earn £100m."
Television audiences for a Murray final are likely to surpass 20million which would beat the current record for a Wimbledon climax.
Up to 17.3million watched the epic battle between sporting legends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe in 1980.
