Post by BVADMIN on Jul 7, 2013 17:28:35 GMT
Andy Murray wins Wimbledon
Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles champion at Wimbledon was finally ended when
Andy Murray beat world number one Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
Andy Murray celebrates victory against Novak Djokovic
Bidding to become the first Brit since Fred Perry in 1936 to lift the title at the All England Club, Murray put last year's defeat to Roger Federer firmly behind him and thrilled the Centre Court crowd with a 6-4 7-5 6-4 victory.
The annual reminder that another year has passed since Perry's pomp will not come in 2014; instead it will be Murray returning to defend the title he won quite brilliantly on a searingly hot day in London.
Murray landed the US Open in New York title last September, after winning Olympic gold at Wimbledon, but today's prize was the one he, like generations of previous British challengers before, had wanted the most.
Murray broke down in tears of joy and relief when Djokovic found the net at match point down.
Murray strolled around the court high-fiving spectators in the crowd as the enormity of his achievement sank in.
The 26-year-old Scot asked Wimbledon referee Andrew Jarrett for permission to go up to his box in the stands, where he embraced mother Judy.
Murray had a huge smile on his face as he was presented with the trophy by the Duke of Kent.
"It feels slightly different to last year," he said. "I'm so glad to finally do this."
Murray started the match extremely well, earning three break points in the opening game, but he could not take any of them and the crowd groaned.
He did not have to wait long for more chances. Three times Djokovic saved break points in the third game but Murray took a fourth chance, wrong-footing his opponent with a backhand.
When they played in the Australian Open final in January, Murray had not broken the Djokovic serve all match.
But the world number one was straight on the offensive, targeting the Murray second serve and breaking when the Scot netted a backhand.
Murray was striking the ball extremely well and pushed Djokovic into errors as he regained the break to lead 4-3.
Murray began the next game with two double faults. He faced two more break points but saved them, the second after a long rally where at one point umpire Mohamed Lahyani appeared to call a Djokovic shot long.
Play continued and after Murray finally won the point Djokovic protested at length to Lahyani.
Murray was going for his shots on the big points, none more so than the forehand he drilled into the corner to save a third break point.
The second seed knew what a big game it was and when he eventually held the crowd roared and Djokovic yelled and gesticulated at his box.
The Serbian survived a fall to hold and trail 5-4 but Murray played a perfect game to serve it out, taking the set 6-4.
It was a great start for the British number one, but he knew he had done the same in his last three matches against Djokovic and lost them all.
The world number one was struggling to hit winners, managing only six in the first set compared to 17 unforced errors, while Murray's statistics were the exact opposite.
But there were signs at the start of the second set that Djokovic was raising his level and that was certainly the case as he broke Murray to lead 3-1.
Fortune favoured Murray as the ball flicked off the tape to give him two break points at 4-2 behind.
Murray netted on both but forced a third, Djokovic hitting the deck for a third time in a vain attempt to retrieve a forehand, and this time the Serbian double-faulted.
Djokovic had used up all his Hawk-Eye challenges, and that came back to haunt him in the 11th game as a Murray backhand that he thought was long was called in.
He raged at Lahyani, prompting boos from the crowd, but had to face two break points. He saved one but netted a forehand on the second to leave Murray serving for the set.
Djokovic had lost his cool and could not put any pressure on Murray, with the Scot slamming down an ace to take the set 7-5 for a two-set lead.
Murray made the best possible start to the third set by breaking.
He somehow retrieved a Djokovic forehand to keep the point alive and then won it on a challenge when a backhand was shown to be long.
Murray had already begun to head back to his chair having assumed the shot would be called out.
The Scot, who was on a 17-match winning streak on grass, was in new territory at Wimbledon but looked comfortable.
He had to keep the pressure on, though, and Djokovic seemed to gain belief by holding from 0-30 in the third game.
That looked very important when he forced a break point in the next game and Murray missed a volley he should have made.
A match that Murray had been in complete control of had become a lot tighter, and when he netted a forehand to trail 4-2, Djokovic had won four games in a row.
The Serbian was using the drop shot to good effect, but one too many took Murray to 0-30 in the next game, and another break soon followed.
A running forehand, one of his best shots all tournament, levelled matters again at 4-4, leaving Murray just two games away.
Murray was back, and another sensational forehand brought up two break points to leave him serving for the match.
Djokovic netted and Centre Court roared in anticipation of acclaiming their hero.
It was deafening as he stepped up to serve, and he quickly brought up three match points.
But it was not going to be that easy. Djokovic saved all three and three times had break point.
Murray kept his nerve, saving them all, and some brilliant play saw him create a fourth match point. This time Djokovic's resistance was over.
