British tennis fans might be dreaming of Andy Murray winning his first grand slam on Sunday, but the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) is more concerned about the impact his Wimbledon exploits are having on the country's finances.
Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the CEBR, is expecting eight million people in the UK to tune into today's semi-final, with a tenth of the British workforce taking time off work to do so.
Based on the assumption that an average of an hour and a half's worth of work is lost from each of these people, productivity in the UK could fall by £120 million, he warned.
However, it is not all bad news, with Mr McWilliams predicting that thirsty and famished tennis fans will spend £100 million on food and drink as they watch their hero.
If Murray does win Wimbledon, the impact could be even greater.
Mr McWilliams said: "A Murray victory would be a good excuse to crack out the champagne and help the hard pressed vintners. Perhaps another £150 million of additional spend."
If Murray is victorious at this year's event, he will be the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
Show me jobs in London.
