Andy Murray Finally Wins A Major

Written by: Staff on 11th September 2012

Andy Murray Finally Wins A Major |

Andy Murray finally ended the 76 years long wait for a British male Grand Slam winner when he beat defending champion Novak Djokovic to win the US Open in a five sets contest that last nearly as many hours. And afterwards he admitted: “I don’t know how I managed to come through in the end.”

Only two men had lost their first four Grand Slam finals in the Open era; Murray and his coach Ivan Lendl. But the 25 year-old Scot battled both Djokovic and his own nerves to snatch back to the momentum in the fifth set to win 7/6, 7/5, 2/6, 3/6, 6/2 and he declared: “It’s great to have finally done it.

“Obviously it was a very tough match. Relief is probably the best word I would use to describe how I’m feeling just now. I’m very, very happy that I managed to come through because if I had lost this one from two sets up, that would have been a tough one to take.”

Murray revealed self doubt of whether he was good enough to become a major champion was certainly a factor in his career. “I knew deep down how tough it was to do it because of the people you were competing against,” he said. “So I started to question whether I was going to be able to do around that age. But I always worked hard and tried to do all the right things. I’m glad it finally happened.”

And the 25 year-old from Dunblane, now ranked world no.3 above Rafael Nadal, felt all the hard work he has put in over the last seven years has been vindicated by the victory. “I proved that I can win the Grand Slams,” he said. “I proved that I can last four?and?a?half hours and come out on top against one of the strongest guys physically that tennis had probably seen, especially on this surface.

“I’ve leaned to not doubt myself physically and mentally from now on. I’m sure that would have a positive impact in the future.”

Murray had previously lost the 2008 U.S. Open final to Roger Federer, the 2010 and 2011 Australian Opens to Federer and Djokovic and nine weeks, one day earlier also lost at Wimbledon to the Swiss. But winning the Olympic gold medal early in August boosted his confidence and now finally he is the first Brit male to win a major since Fred Perry in 1936.

The weight of expectation to finally win that elusive problem was a handicap to Murray and he said: “I would always get asked questions along those sort of lines, and it does build a bit of pressure.

“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 or British sport. It’s something that hasn’t happened for a long time obviously in our country. And, yes I’m obviously proud that I managed to achieve it and I don’t have to get asked that stupid question again.”

Murray credited the input of coach Lendl, appointed on New Year’s Eve, in pushing him that extra level required to win a major. The Czech born naturalized American lost four Grand Slam finals before finally overcoming John McEnroe at the French Open.

“He definitely helped, that’s for sure,” insisted the new champion. “It’s hard to say in terms of a percentage how much difference he will have made. There was a lot of people that around the middle part of this year didn’t think that it was working well and I wasn’t learning from him.

“But I have enjoyed working with him and have listened to him a lot. Having him in your corner would be a big bonus for any player. Not many guys, who have won as much as he did, want to go into coaching or want to be around tennis.

“Because he had such a long break after he finished he wanted to get back into it and I think he’s enjoying it. You know, he was obviously one of the most successful tennis players ever. I’m sure it gave a little boost to his ego tonight, as well.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

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