After 4 hours and 54 minutes of a windy war of attrition with Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray finally held his nerve to win the US Open and collect a much deserved first grand slam title, making him the first British man to win a grand slam since Fred Perry way back in 1936.
It took five sets, it took nearly five hours but unlike previous encounters between him and the other top guys, this time it was Murray who was the last man standing prevailing 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2.
At the beginning of the match the swirling winds in and around the Arthur Ashe Stadium favoured Murray as Djokovic struggled to settle and find his rhythm, but being the champion that he is, he still managed to force a tie-break and boy was it tense, with Murray just edging it 12-10 after 87 minutes.
One of the perceived weaknesses in Murray’s game is his inability to maintain the initiative and make the most of his opportunities, when out in front he has often allowed his opponents a way back into the match, and in the second set this rang true.
Djokovic was 4-0 and 5-2 down, and had many already looking ahead to the third, but he loosened up and went for the lines and found himself back on level terms at 5-5, only for Murray to hold serve and break in the next to take it 7-5.
Two sets to love up Djokovic seemingly having problems tailoring his game to the conditions, surely this would be over in three, or four, but Djokovic refused to give in, I mean he’s not world no.1 and a five time grand slam winner for nothing.
He took the third 6-2 aided by a dip in Murray’s consistency, and he quickly took charge in the fourth, Murray made it interesting but Djokovic powered his way through taking it 6-3, as they walked out to start the fifth and final set, things didn’t look good.
Djokovic has shown, particularly since the start of last year, that he’s become quite adept at winning the long and tight matches, but Murray found a second wind and found himself 3-0 up, only for Djokovic to pull it back to 3-2.
I’m sure like me your nerves must have been spent watching the match draw to its conclusion, in fact I’m finding it very difficult to type this now having chewed off most of my fingers, even though the match finished well after 2am I didn’t actually sleep, I merely passed out from the blood I lost gnawing at my hands.
Back to the match and despite the best efforts of Djokovic his body gave up on him and Murray with the winning line in sight went for it and found himself 5-2 in front serving for the match, he brought up championship point only to relinquish it, but it was really only delaying the inevitable as on the next point a spent Djokovic blazed a return of serve long and Murray was the champion.
Before the match aside from who was going to win, the majority of the discussion centred around the wind and the impact that could have on the outcome.
Many thought it would affect the quality of the rallies and the strategies of both players, but for me it only enhanced the experience, watching the two best returners in the game continually having to re-assess the flight of the ball and improvise strokes from all over the court, led to several of the best points you’re ever likely to see.
While Murray had showed us all before last night that he had the talent and shots to win a major, the big question was his mentality and thanks in no small part to the work he’s being doing with Ivan Lendl, he has shown he can stay focused and mentally outlast guys like Djokovic.
Much like Murray kicked on from his Olympic singles gold to win in New York, becoming the first player to do so, hopefully the boost from breaking his major duck will enable him to go on and win many, many more.
Murray’s US Open win last night really was the jewel in the crown of an unforgettable and historic summer of British sporting success, which I’m sure most of us will never tire of regaling to our children and grand-children in the years to come, oh wait a minute the Ryder Cup starts in a few weeks . . . . .
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