First there was Fred Perry, now there is Andy Murray.
The British star finally broke through for his first career Grand Slam on Monday night, defeating Novak Djokovic in an epic five-set match 7-6 (10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2.
Murray is the first British man to win a singles Grand Slam title since Perry did it in 1936 at the U.S Championships, which back then was still played in Forrest Hills.
This has been a big year for Murray, who also won Olympic gold in London. He had previously made four Grand Slam finals, losing them all, including at Wimbeldon this summer where he was defeated by Roger Federer.
"Relief is probably the best word I would use to describe how I'm feeling just now," Murray told the Associated Press. "You do think: Is it ever going to happen?"
The match lasted nearly five hours and saw Murray gut out the first two sets before dropping the next two to Djokovic. The two stars hit some amazing shots and played out long rallies, including a 54-shot point in the first set.
"Novak is so, so strong. He fights until the end in every single match," Murray said. "I don't know how I managed to come through in the end."
Murray and Djokovic are familiar with each other and have been playing competitively against one another since they were 12 years old.
By the fifth set both players were fatigued, but Murray was determined to avoid becoming the first player to give up a two-set lead in the U.S. Open title match since 1949. Djokovic hurt his groin near the end of the set, leaving Murray up 5-2 and waiting to serve out the match.
Djokovic had previously won eight straight five-set matches, but Murray was too much on this night. He went up 40-0 and later had triple match point before a Djokovic return sailed long, giving the Brit the championship.
"Well, any loss is a bad loss. There is no question about it," Djokovic said. "I'm disappointed to lose the match, but in the back of my mind I knew that I gave it all. I really, really tried to fight my way back."
The loss snapped Djokovic's Grand Slam hard-court winning streak at 27.
The four hours, 54 minute match tied a record for the longest final at the U.S. Open and made Murray the first man since John McEnroe to win the title after winning the first two sets and losing the next two.
It also marked the first time since 1988 that the women's final went three sets and the men's final went five sets.
The wind was wild on Monday and seemed to rattle Djokovic from the start of the match.
Murray took a 4-2 lead in the first set before Djokovic made a comeback to tie things up. In the first set tiebreaker there were 10 points of at least 10 strokes. Murray emerged victorious after the first set on a precise serve that Djokovic couldn't return.
The second set began in a similar fashion; with Murray taking a 4-1 lead before Djokovic charged back. The Serbian broke Murray to get it to 5-4, even though he had twice as many errors as winners at that point in the match.
Djokovic seemingly began to steal the momentum, but Murray took a 6-5 lead and then pushed it to triple set point on Djokovic's serve. On the final point of the set Djokovic hit a shot wide and challenged it, but lost giving Murray the second set at 7-5 for a 2-0 lead.
At this U.S. Open though, the idea of a two set lead wasn't always a sure thing. In the first week alone at this tournament the players set a record for the most comebacks from two sets down.
Djokovic stormed back in the third set, winning 6-2 on a smash winner that Murray couldn't handle. The set also marked the fifth straight year that the men's final went over three hours. Djokovic broke Murray to start the fourth set and took a 5-2 lead before forcing a decisive fifth set.
Murray started fast in the fifth set, racing to a 3-0 lead after breaking Djokovic to open the frame. The crowd was a huge factor in the match and seemed to be behind Murray once he got off to a lead.
With Murray up 4-2 both players were dead even with 153 points won on the match. After breaking again to go up 5-2, Murray had to wait as Djokovic received medical treatment. But no delay would stop Murray from taking the championship.
At 15-0 Murray hit a great serve that was called out, but after a challenge, took the point to go up 30-0. Djokovic challenged the next point, a ball he hit long, that was also called out to give Murray a 40-0 advantage. He was up double match point when Djokovic returned a serve long and out to end the match and the streak for Murray.
"I think everybody's in kind of shock," Murray said, "that this happened."
The champion celebrated with his family and friends, as well as some British celebrities, including actor Sean Connery and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Also in attendance was Virginia Wade, who was the last British woman to win a Grand Slam title.
The win made Murray the fifth player to win a Grand Slam out of the last 30 majors. Previously those were won only by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro.
Murray's win also marked the first time in years that all four majors were won by a different player. This year Djokovic won the Australian Open, Nadal the French Open, Federer at Wimbeldon and now Murray at the U. S. Open.
"If I had lost this one from two sets up," Murray said, "that would have been a tough one to take."
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