subject: Hail King Murray [print this page] Well, well, wellWell, well, well. At last after a wait of 76 years we finally have a British Mens Grand Slam winner his name is of course Andy Murray! After an epic encounter lasting almost five hours Andy Murray is the US Open Champion. It was his fifth Grand Slam final and his first victory against the favorite and number 2 seed Novak Djokovic, his old rival from junior Tennis days they first played against each other at age 11.
Murrays path to the final was impressive in the quarter finals he beat Marin Cilic the Croatian in four sets and was scheduled to play Roger Federer, however the cze republic player and number 6 seed Thomas Berdych had other ideas, he beat Federer to set up a semi final clash with Murray and again although Murray lost the first set he soon got into his stride to win in four. Setting up his fifth Grand Slam Final.
Djokovic was equally impressive in the run up to the final, he dispatched the tall Argentinian player Del Potro seeded 7 in staright sets in the quarters to then play against the Spaniard and fourth seed David Ferrer. In the semi Djokovic dropped his only set of the tournament so far before seeing off Ferrer also in four sets. And so here it was the current US Open champion against the British number one.
The weather brought in very windy conditions for the start of the final and Murray broke Djokovic in the very first game, before being broke back for 1-1, and although Murray broke again, his opponent broke back for a second time and at 6-6 we went into a tie break, chances came and went for Murray in an epic encounter which finally ended 12-10 in Murrays favor and lasted 83 minutes!
Murray was playing some very aggressive Tennis and he broke again before things evened up but Murrays style was forcing Djokovic onto the back foot he broke at a crucial stage and took the second set 7-5. Two sets to love up.. Surely this had to be its Murrays time. But wait Djokovic has not won five Grand Slams by being a passenger, he is like a robot never knows when he is beaten. He changed gear moved up to a new level, Murray helps his opponent by crying out the word JELLY a reference to how his legs were feeling. Suddenly Djokovic is a new man he breaks serve twice and holds his own he goes on to win the third in comfortable fashion 6-2. In the fourth Novak takes the very first game to break serve and never looks back Murray looks a different player gone is the aggressive style, Djokovic smells blood and wins it 6-3 to even the game at two sets all. We are into a fifth and final set decider and the momentum has completely swung the favorites way, not since 1949 and Pancho Gonzalez has anyone come back from two sets down to win the final of the US Open in the mens game.
Surly Andy is not going to blow up and loose a fifth straight Grand Slam final?? He has a toilet break and tells himself its just one set, play like the devil and give it everything for just one set.. He comes out fired up and breaks Djokovic in the very first game, he then holds serve and then.. Murray breaks again for a 3-0 lead this is fantastic, now its Djokovic who looks a beaten man, but a lack of concentration by Murray and he looses serve for 3-1 and then Djokovic holds his for 3-2. Big Big game next and Murray holds his nerve for 4-2 he has breathing space then incredible he breaks Djokovic for the third time in this set 5-2.. Its djokovic who looks tired the comeback in sets three and four have taken their toll on the champion from Serbia. One last game for Andy.. and yes he has two championship points and on the second challenged call of the game it goes in Andys favor, thank you Hawkeye. Andy Murray is the CHAMPION OF THE US OPEN and a Grand Slam winner at last!
Finally some interesting comparisons with our last Grand Slam winner Fred Perry 76 years ago.
Fred Perry is a Taurus so is Andy Murray, Fred played a three times Australian champion in the final, so did Murray, Fred was number 3 seed playing against the more fancied number 2 seed, so was Murray, the Final was played on the 10th of October, so was this one! scary but true. Alex Ferguson and fellow Scott Sean Connory were in the crowd to witness this heart stopping match that at last has a Brit as a Grand Slam winner.
Spare a thought to the grunting Victoria Azarenka from Belarus, the number one seed but facing the in form Serena Williams, in the womens final, it went to a third and deciding set she was two points from victory against the Serena serve at 5-3, but Serena held on for 5-4 then Azarenka served for the match, but got a little ahead of herself was broken for 5-5. And Serena went on to win again 7-5 and make it 15 Grand Slam titles and a hat trick this year with Wimbledon Gold in the Olympics and victory at Flushing Meadows. Even Serena thought she was heading for defeat, Azarenka could not add to her only major in Australia this year.
So the US Open was the last Grand Slam of 2012. But we still have some great Tennis before the turn of the year. We will keep you posted here at mytennisstore.co.uk
