I cannot believe it! After four attempts, Andy Murray won his first major title! Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic at the 2012 US Open 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Murray came out of the gate firing on all cylinders. Opening the first set wide open breaking Nole’s serve. Then again, the first set was pretty ugly on both players serves. The wind swirled and the temperature fell, the conditions were gnarly.
Djokovic and Murray took the first set to a very intense tie-breaker, with each player holding onto their serve. Murray got and consolidated a mini-break at 10 all, Murray closed out the first set in the tiebreaker 12-10.
In the second set, Djokovic and Murray battled. Murray started the second set with another early break on the Djokovic serve. Andy led the second set at 4 love. FOUR LOVE. Bad news for the Serbian.
Somehow, Djokovic decided to join the party and broke back to 1-4. He battled back to level the set to 5 all. Even though Djokovic matched Murray, the Brit was determined to kept the momentum going. Andy Murray broke and took the second set, 7-5.
Novak Djokovic stormed back in the third and fourth set. It was as if Murray was getting nervous and very tight. His serves and ground strokes were all over the place. His depth was too deep, he was out of sorts for a few minutes there. Novak played incredible return games, going for his returns and hitting extremely hard.
Djokovic captured the third set with a commanding lead, 6-2. Djokovic did more of the same in the fourth set, hitting his shots, playing on his terms. Big serves and big groundstrokes. Nole kept pushing and pressuring Murray, forcing Andy to come up with something special in order to win points.
I thought at this point, Djokovic was turning the match back to the way he wanted it. On his terms. Unfortunately, Andy Murray had different plans.
Murray started off the fifth set by breaking Djokovic in his first service game. Right then, Andy Murray believe he could actually win it. Like actually win the US Open. It has only been 76 years since a Brit has won the US Open (1936 Fred Perry), so this was the best opportunity for any Brit to win it. Murray knew exactly what to do.
Murray executed virtually flawlessly. Granted Djokovic was also making it fairly easy for Murray to close in on the title. Novak was clearly starting to cramp. There was some struggle with his right thigh. In any event, Murray kept his nose to the grindstone and just played tennis.
The last game of the fifth set, where Murray was leading at 5-2, all he had to was hold. And hold he did. After a few intense exchanges, and Chase Review Challenges, Djokovic hit a forehand long and Andy Murray was the 2012 US Open Champion.
It didn’t really seem that Murray was surprised that he won, he was full of belief. He knew that he was going to win, it was the Serbian who was the weaker of the two.
Novak and Andy embraced, almost as if Djokovic was passing the crown to the new king of New York.
Congratulations Andy Murray, 2012 US Open Champion.
Photo credit: USOPEN.ORG Twitter