Wednesday September 12, 2012

Murray ends the drought

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.

At last: Britain’s Andy Murray heaves a huge sigh of relief after defeating Novak Djokovic 7-6 (12-10), 7- 5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in the men’s singles final of the US Open at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre on Monday. Murray is the first British player to win the Grand Slam in 76 years. — AFP

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.”

“Murray had lost all of his four previous Grand Slam finals - to Roger Federer at the US Open in 2008, the 2010 Australian Open and this year’s Wimbledon, as well as to Djokovic in Australia in 2011.

But cheered on by fellow Scots, Sir Sean Connery and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, he survived a thrilling fightback by Djokovic, a five-time major winner who had defeated Murray in an epic five-setter in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.

Djokovic had spent five hours fewer than Murray on the court in reaching his fourth US Open final, but fitness wasn’t an issue in the opening exchanges.

It was a battle to see who could master the vicious wind that suddenly whipped up inside Arthur Ashe Stadium as play got underway.

Both players were broken in the first two games before Murray nipped ahead 3-2 with a break courtesy of Djokovic’s third double fault in just three service games. Murray went to 4-2 despite Djokovic slamming a 54-shot rally.

The Serb retrieved the break for 4-4 before serving two love games going into the tie-break.The 24-minute tie-breaker, a record for a men’s championship match at the tournament, featured a 30-shot rally and a 33-shot exchange before Murray took it on a sixth set point after a marathon 87-minute set.

Murray, sensing his place in the history books, raced to a 4-0 and 5-2 lead in the second set before Australian Open winner Djokovic, a five-time Grand Slam champion, clawed back to 5-5. But the Scot held for 6-5 and carved out two set points later. Djokovic saved one but handed the second set with a misguided forehand which sailed away. But the World No.2 wasn’t going down without a fight.

A year ago, he came back from two sets and two match points down to beat Federer in New York but this time Murray prevailed and won. — AFP

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Wednesday September 12, 2012

Murray ends the drought