Murray wins historic first major

Andy Murray ended Britain's 76-year
wait for a male Grand Slam singles
champion with an epic victory over
Novak Djokovic in the US Open final.
Murray, 25, finally emulated Fred Perry's
1936 achievement, winning 7-6 (12-10)
7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 in four hours 54
minutes in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Murray also reached the Wimbledon
final and won Olympic gold this
summer.
"When I realised I had won, I was a little
bit shocked, I was very relieved and I
was very emotional," said Murray.
Despite his other successes, this result
will arguably have a greater impact on
his career and the future of tennis in
the United Kingdom.
Murray - the new world number three -
lost his first four Grand Slam finals to
share an Open-era record with coach
Ivan Lendl, but like the Czech he has
triumphed at the fifth time of asking.
And while it is a dream of Murray's to
win Wimbledon, the British number one
has long been tipped to make his
breakthrough at Flushing Meadows in
the final major of the year.
He was the boys' singles champion
there in 2004, hard courts are his
favourite surface and he enjoys the
atmosphere in New York.
Murray is unlikely to ever forget the
atmosphere inside the world's biggest
tennis arena as he celebrated his
success, which arrived in his 28th
appearance at a Grand Slam
tournament.
A swirling wind made conditions
troublesome for both players, but it
was Murray who coped better in the
first two sets and eventually ended
Djokovic's title defence and 27-match
hard-court winning run at majors.
"They were incredibly tricky conditions,"
said the right-hander from Dunblane.
"Novak is so strong, he fights until the
end of every match and I don't know
how I managed to come through in the
end."
After early breaks were exchanged,
Murray struck again before moving 4-2
ahead following a game that included a
54-shot rally.
Djokovic rallied to force a tie-break, yet
his opponent showed greater belief
and took a sixth set point with 87
minutes on the clock.
Murray roared with delight and carried
his momentum into the second set,
breaking an out-of-sorts Djokovic twice
for a 4-0 lead.
A lapse in concentration allowed
Djokovic back in and when the Serbian
landed a majestic lob for 5-5, Murray
clutched his left thigh.
There were no signs of injury, though,
as Murray held to 15 and then forced a
flurry or errors from the world number
two, opening up a two-set lead for the
first time in a Grand Slam final.
The crowed urged Djokovic to respond
and he did - threatening in game one of
the third set before making his move in
game three.
Murray was now starting to berate
himself and voice his frustrations in the
direction of his player box, never more
so than when two backhand mistakes
saw chances squandered in game six.
He then fell a double-break down
thanks to an incredible backhand on to
the baseline from Djokovic, who easily
closed out the set.
Djokovic looked revitalised, Murray
weary, and the right-hander from
Belgrade swiftly found himself 2-0 up in
the fourth set.
Just when it seemed Murray might
respond, Djokovic was called for a time
violation and he angrily took his
performance to a new level.
When Murray's backhand broke down
again, Djokovic leapt with joy and it
seemed he could become the first man
since Pancho Gonzales in 1949 to rally
from two sets down to win the US
Open.
But Murray had other ideas and made
a devastating start to the decider,
breaking in game one and consolidating
it with some defensive play of the very
highest order.
The third seed was in dreamland when
Djokovic netted a forehand to hand
over the double-break, only for a
nervous Murray to immediately
surrender one of his strikes with a timid
backhand.
A love service hold put Murray back on
track and he advanced to within one
game of victory when Djokovic netted a
forehand.
Murray served out the championship
79 years to the day - on the same court
- that Perry won the first of eight major
singles crowns.
"I'm disappointed to lose, but I gave it
my all," said five-time major winner
Djokovic, a friend of Murray's and seven
days younger.
"I had a great opponent today. He
deserved to win this Grand Slam more
than anybody. I would like to
congratulate him."