Andy Murray creates history, won US open title
New York: Andy Murray beet Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in US Open final to become the first Britisher to win a Grand Slam men’s singles title in 76 years.
The Scotsman at last won a major after losing four Grand Slam finals by battling it out in blustery conditions at Arthur Ashe Stadium 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2, here at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
It looked as if Murray had the measure of the windy conditions as he took the first two sets before Djokovic came back roaring to take the next two.
The last British male champion to win a Grand Slam title was Fred Perry, who claimed the US Open in 1936.Murray, 25, had an extra day’s rest than his opponent as Djokovic’s semifinal against David Ferrer was postponed to Sunday.
The Serb had to play two matches in two days and that gave Murray the edge over the defending champion, especially in the fifth set.The defeat cost Djokovic heavy.
Had he won he would have collected USD2.9 million payout instead of the USD1.45 million runner-up cheque as he would have pocketed USD1 million bonus for leading the US Open series.
Murray earned USD1.9 million, bringing his career prize money to more than USD23 million.Djokovic, 25, was the 2-5 favorite at the Las Vegas Hotel’s Super Book, translating to a 71 percent probability of a sixth major title.
A successful USD100 dollars bet on underdog Murray yielded a 210-dollar profit.
The win also broke a stranglehold on major titles by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, who combined to win 29 of the previous 30.
Juan Martin Del Potro’s 2009 US Open victory was the lone exception. Murray’s breakthrough came in his 28th Grand Slam event and after losing four finals.
He lost the 2011 Australian Open final to Djokovic and was beaten by Federer in three others — at the 2008 U.S. Open, in Australia in 2010 and this year at Wimbledon.
