History-making Andy Murray ended Britain’s 76-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion when he beat 2011 winner Novak Djokovic 7-6 (12/10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in an epic US Open final on Monday. Murray became Britain’s first major champion since Fred Perry claimed his third American title in 1936, the year the Spanish Civil War started and Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected US president. In a roller-coaster final, which witnessed a 54-shot rally, numerous 30-stroke exchanges, as well as a record-setting tie-breaker, the 25-year-old Murray held his nerve in a knife-edge final set. The Olympic champion led 3-0 in the decider, dropped serve but broke again for 5-2 when Djokovic called a medical time-out.
But Murray wasn’t to be denied, taking the historic crown when Djokovic went long with a forehand on a second match point in what was, at four hours and 54 minutes, the second-longest US Open final of all time. Murray insisted it was a huge relief to finally have captured a major and put an end to the questions over whether or not he would do it.
“Most press conferences I would do I would get asked a question along those sort of lines, and it does build pressure a little bit,” he said. “You try not to think about it much when you’re playing, but when I was serving for the match, I realized how important that moment was for British tennis. It’s something that hasn’t happened for a long time. “And, yeah, I’m obviously proud that I managed to achieve it, and don’t have to get asked that stupid question again.”
Murray paid tribute to coach Ivan Lendl, who lost three finals in New York from 1982-1984 before clinching three titles in a row from 1985-1987. “He was one of the greatest,” Murray said. “He has helped me through the tough times.” Djokovic admitted Murray was a worthy winner. “Any loss is a bad loss. I’m disappointed to lose the match, but in the back of my mind I knew that I gave it all. I really, really tried to fight my way back through,” said Djokovic. “I had a great opponent today. He deserved to win this Grand Slam more than anybody because over the years he’s been a top player. He’s been so close; lost four finals. Now he has won it, so I would like to congratulate him.”
