Andy Murray Wins U.S. Open Title, Defeating Novak Djokovic For 1st Grand Slam Title (PHOTOS)

Could it have happened any other way?

Andy Murray has won the first Grand Slam title of his career, besting defending U.S. Open champion Novak Djokovic in an instant Flushing Meadows classic that stretched five sets and nearly as many hours. Murray's U.S. Open triumph makes him the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles crown since Fred Perry captured the 1936 U.S. Championships at Forest Hills.

The 25-year-old from Scotland won the first set (7-6) after a historic 22-point tiebreaker, the longest tiebreak in U.S. Open final history. After breaking Djokovic to win the second set, 7-5, Murray stood on the precipice of history.

Not so fast...

Defending with ferocity and making frequent attacking forays toward the net, Djokovic stormed back into the match, winning the third (6-2) and fourth (6-3) sets to force a decisive winner-take-all fifth set. The sentimental favorite at the start of the match due to his paucity of Grand Slam hardware, Murray surrendered control of the match and the crowd -- who roared for the improbable comeback bid. As noted by Reuters and others, no one had lost in the U.S. Open men's final after winning the first two sets since Pancho Gonzalez stormed back to defeat Ted Schroeder in 1949. Having lost in his four previous trips to a Grand Slam singles final, it seemed that Murray might cement his runner-up reputation with an epic collapse. Instead, the fifth set produced a memorable display of physical and mental resolve and a career-defining moment for Murray. After all 315 points in the match had been played -- 160 won by Murray and 155 for Djokovic (via @USOpen) -- the year scratched from the "not since" list was 1936 instead 1949.

"Novak is so, so strong. He fights until the end in every single match," Murray said after the match, according to Howard Fendrich of The Associated Press. "I don't know how I managed to come through in the end."

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

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• Britain's Andy Murray reacts after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts while playing Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

• Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray poses with the trophy after defeating Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the championship match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. Murray won 7-6 (10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray poses with the trophy after beating Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  A trainer works on Serbia's Novak Djokovic during his match against Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. Djokovic lost the match. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic argues a call while playing Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray reacts while playing Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts before resuming play against Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts while playing Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Sean Connery

  Sean Connery watches Britain's Andy Murray play Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic serves to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray reacts while playing Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray reacts while playing Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray, right, returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray reacts while playing Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts while playing Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts while playing Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Kevin Spacey, Sean Connery

  Kevin Spacey, top left, and Sean Connery, bottom right, react after a long rally between Andy Murray, of Great Britain, and Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Sean Connery

  Sean Connery watches Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Britain's Andy Murray play during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray reacts while playing against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Novak Djokovic

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

• Andy Murray

  Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. =

• Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray

  Serbia's Novak Djokovic, left, and Britain's Andy Murray pose for a photo before the championship match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York.

As the match moved past four hours and into the fifth set, Djokovic -- who was playing with less rest than his opponent -- began to tire. As his opponent appeared to struggle with injury late in the match, Murray found the form that had staked him to the early lead. With the crowd once again behind him in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Murray powered past Djokovic to capture the final set, 6-2.

When the longtime opponents met at the net after four hours and 54 minutes -- tying for the longest men's final in U.S. Open history -- Djokovic congratulated Murray.

"Great job, you deserve it," the 5-time Grand Slam champion said to Murray, via Ben Rothenberg of The New York Times.

Just weeks after winning gold during the London Olympics, Murray has finally broken through in a Grand Slam. The perennial contender had consistently been held at bay by Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the sport's marquee events. After losing in the 2012 men's final at Wimbledon to Federer, an emotional Murray told the partisan crowd that he was "getting closer."

On a windy day -- and night -- in New York, he finished the journey. Andy Murray is a Grand Slam champion.

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Comments

[lovemypins]

11:52 AM on 09/13/2012

Cheeeeeeeers :p

[hynzerelli]

05:44 PM on 09/12/2012

Cheeeeeeeers, first the gold, now a grand slam.

[JacksonHts]

01:30 PM on 09/12/2012

Now they can make a movie with Paul Bethany playing Murray instead of a fictitious British tennis player who had never won a big one.

[Steelerfanman]

10:09 PM on 09/11/2012

That was a stellar US Open Final! It looked like Nole was gonna give up mentally after 2 breaks in the 2nd set. Then he storms back to get on serve but loses the tiebreak. Only to win the next two sets. Was an amazing turn of events and I'm glad he made a match of it. I'm also glad to see Murray get his first Grand Slam.

[Imago1122]

08:41 PM on 09/11/2012

Oh, there Murray goes again! He wins one Grand Slam in an era of giants who have already won many, many, and he’s already believing in a recent interview he can be number one in the world. He said the same thing a few years ago before he failed to reach that particular goal.

What’s my problem with Andy Murray again? He boasts about his specialness even without the results to prove anything. He and the Joker are the same age and yet the Joker is far more accomplished and has settled into maturity. Granted, Djokovic wilted on this occasion, but he didn't get the rest Murray did in the lead up & unfortunately he let the wind get into his head & then faltered after mounting incredible comebacks again & again.

On the occasions the giants thumped their chests, at times arrogantly, yes, at least they’ve had the records to back them up.

Andy Murray, please remember the other Andy, Andy Roddick, before the fall. He too claimed but a single Grand Slam, & he wasn't even as old as you were when he grabbed that first jewel. Remember that you are already 25 and that there are youngsters just as hungry as you, & maybe far more powerful, waiting to erupt from the wings.

[savethecountry]

11:55 PM on 09/11/2012

I agree with much of what you've said, Imago. Murray's arrogance has always been an issue with me, too. Of course, one has to be confident to win major titles, but Fed and Rafa, and to a lesser degree Nole, have handled it without it appearing to be strutting. For example, almost any time Murray loses a point he shakes his head in personal disgust, even when his opponent has hit a great shot to WIN the point. There were points in Monday's final when Nole applauded Murray's winning shots. I didn't see any of that from Andy. One can be a great player and humble at the same time.

To my mind, Murray CLEARLY has the game to win more grand-slam titles. His glaring weaknesses, his 2nd serve and his forehand breaking down under duress, have largely been addressed (although I think his 2nd serve can be opportunistically attacked). His fitness has improved, too (2 years ago Andy would have broken down physically before Nole). Andy handled the changing and often challenging conditions of this year's US Open better than anyone. My hat's off to Lendl's influence as Andy's coach (a compliment that makes me want to throw up a little as I couldn't stand Lendl as a player). The next major is in Australia in January. It's on hard courts. Andy's got to be rated as at least a co-favorite with Fed and Nole (not knowing Rafa's health and that he's more beatable on hard courts).

[Imago1122]

12:36 AM on 09/12/2012

Thank you, savethecountry, for reading my post.

I forgot to add in that comment Andy Murray's habit of finding mysterious injuries when other players are blasting balls past him.

I do agree with you that Murray is a talented player and that Lendl has given a more offensive shape to his game---but yet I do not still put Murray on the same level as the Big Three. As an example, Murray today would not have beaten the Joker with his killer instincts intact a la the Djokovic of this year's Australian Open and the Djokovic on last year's incandescent run. And Nadal with his knees intact would run like a terror through him and the match. Roger's powers are on the decline and the form he shows up in is always last minute but Roger at his best is imperial.

In Murray, I tend to see a guy plugging away who makes the most of the opportunities when they come simply because he's the hungriest guy in the Second Tier. Is Murray's raw talent comparable to Del Potro's or Berdych's for instance? Where would Del Potro have been without his wrist injury after the 09 US Open? How about Tomas if he worked harder at being more consistent?

Thanks again for your measured response.

[DISGUSTED WITH COST]

02:46 PM on 09/13/2012

At the end of 2012, all points gained in 2007 are removed.
In Federer's case, this takes off the ponts for winning 3 Majors and all other points gained that year.
Nadal only won the French Open, but there were also many other tournaments he won that year.
Djokovic won his 1st Major in 2008, so that still stands.
Federer will lose his No 1 World Ranking in January to Djokovic and Nadal will fall farther behind Murray in the Rankings.
I reckon, if Nadal doesn't come back soon, he will be cast adrift by Murray and Djokovic and be fighting to be No 3 by the time Wimbledon comes along.

[Imago1122]

03:02 PM on 09/13/2012

Very interesting! I didn't realize all points gained in '07 would be removed. Thanks for letting me in on something that's, at least for me, new.

It's kind of sad that Nadal's knees will probably buckle for good before he collects the bunch more Slams that were surely in his future.

[Willie Plasencia]

04:56 PM on 09/11/2012

Andy, I say this with absolute love...

Now that you finally won, cut your hair, brighten your teeth and wear some hip tennis clothes like Federer. Your a winner now...look the part. lol

[Dhammi]

07:17 PM on 09/11/2012

Don't be silly!

[mercedes1947]

02:55 PM on 09/13/2012

Applause! Applause! For saying what I (And I am sure many others) have been thinking. LOL Straighten the teeth too.

I remember a Wimbledon from 3 years ago, maybe. Murray was playing poorly. Old Dick Enberg goes: "He is looking downright scruffy out there." You go Dick. Way to get a remark about his appearence in without saying it outright. Go Jets! Prove the naysayers wrong. From a 49er fan.

[DrJackBrown]

04:55 PM on 09/11/2012

Andy Murray's "affection" for and savoring of his first major victory - are very illustrative and provide a great body language teaching point. See also: http://www.bodylanguagesuccess.com/2012/09/nonverbal-communication-analysis-2107.html

[chaucer1]

02:02 PM on 09/11/2012

Murray deserved to win: he had a plan while Djoko didn't; however, first set displayed all the ills of modern tennis: endless baseline-bombing, fear of volleying, stalling between points. Bring back lighter balls/low-tech rackets/faster courts, please! This is supposed to be tennis, not a body-building contest.

[Dhammi]

07:19 PM on 09/11/2012

Did you take the unpredictable gusting wind into consideration?? Didn't sound like it to me.

[mercedes1947]

02:56 PM on 09/13/2012

Not being able to handle the wind is a weakness...not an excuse.

[Imago1122]

08:51 PM on 09/11/2012

Did you take the fact that Djokovic didn't have as much rest going into this Championship Match as Murray did into consideration? Also, Djokovic's inability to settle down with the wind could have been an important factor too. Granted, champions deal with adversities as they come, but in this match, Murray undoubtedly had a couple of things going in his favor---an adversary who wouldn't show up for long periods because of the wind's havoc, and who when he did, got overtaken by exhaustion in the end simply because he didn't have as much rest as Murray did beforehand.

Djokovich is a cleaner, more more powerful ball striker than Murray, simple. The incredible comebacks he mounted against a better rested opponent last night lead me to believe he'd have taken this one had the aforementioned conditions been absent.

[Steelerfanman]

10:04 PM on 09/11/2012

You do know they both played in the same wind right?

[Annie12]

07:56 PM on 09/12/2012

If your rationale is correct, Federer should have won the final. He had three days off before losing is final match. Why didn't a well-rested Roger win? Why was Andy able to serve in the wind while Nole wasn't?

Murray had ONE day more rest than Nole. Your logic is illogical.

[gutenmorgen]

01:19 PM on 09/11/2012

Wonderful! However his big problems have only started if he wants to prove that he is in the company of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. For that he must win more than the US open. At least Wimbledon, Australian, or France.

[kahalaman]

03:16 PM on 09/11/2012

"His big problems have only started?"

You must be a lot of fun at parties.

[sfkjeld]

06:50 PM on 09/11/2012

Sad but true. And my guess is, that he and Del Potro probably will not.

[jl4141]

12:58 PM on 09/11/2012

And he did this without the assistance of blancmanges from outer space!

[CAMBEL]

11:48 AM on 09/11/2012

This year we had a different man win each Grand Slam. Nice to have a little bit of competition back in the men's game. Well done to all of them!

[LogicalMathMan]

11:36 AM on 09/11/2012

IMO. no setting could've been more perfect for Andy. Berdych took out Federer, Nadal did not play and Andy had beaten Nole in their last meeting at the Olympics. The biggest reason for his wins: Ivan Lendl. Congrats!

[AbeMartin]

10:57 AM on 09/11/2012

What an amazing pairing of two extraordinarily gifted athletes at the peak of their strength.  Time and time again, my draw dropped as one or the other got off a winner that is for 99.999% of us tennis pretenders simply beyond comprehension.

Was it my imagination, or did Andy Murray seem almost out of the moment when he finally won the championship he had been pursuing for years?  He was subdued, mostly quiet and almost introspective.

[GwenElle]

11:44 AM on 09/11/2012

Yes, he was subdued; subdued to the point of joyless. Although I was thrilled to finally see someone, ANYONE, win a grand slam without that cliched collapsing to the ground, I found myself somewhat puzzled by his lack of emotion.

Because Andy plays with such a sour demeanor, it's difficult as a fan to feel inspired watching him. Because he showed no joy in victory, it was difficult to feel joyful for him. So, though I am very pleased that Andy won, I found myself feeling less joyful about the win than I thought I would. Andy takes so little from the crowd emotionally when playing. I suppose it should be no surprise that he also gave so little emotionally in victory, at least as I experienced it.

Maybe he was still trying to grasp the fact that he'd finally won. Maybe the sense of relief of getting that monkey off of his back was far greater than the joy he was feeling, which f true is too bad. Was finally winning a slam the reward he'd thought or hoped it would be, or just anti-climatic? I wonder.

He deserved his joy, but seemed sadly disconnected from it. Again, as I experienced it.

[AbeMartin]

02:14 PM on 09/11/2012

Thanks, GwenElle.  I am going to extend the discussion just a bit.  I am glad that I wasn't alone in feeling something was sort of off-key, and I do echo your point about the back on the flop being clicheed.  I am an athlete but long removed from being athletically talented.  So, the only analogous experience I can remember is the sense of emotional and intellectual decompression that I have experienced when a long, difficult project has been successfully completed and moves forward, without the need for my energy, ideas, or force of will.  And when that happens, and all of the anxiety, long working hours, conflict and sleeplessness is suddenly gone, I feel disconnected and almost untethered.

Murray is very young, still has a long way to go until he might possibly demonstrate the icy professionalism of a Federer.  Perhaps, after having concentrated for years on one goal--to become an elite player with a Slam Win under his belt, he was thinking after his win, "Is that all there is?"

[mercedes1947]

03:49 PM on 09/11/2012

"Although I was thrilled to finally see someone, ANYONE, win a grand slam without that cliched collapsing to the ground,"

Me too. I think it was Borg that started that at Wimbledon one year. Time for something new. Maybe they can take some lessons from NFL TD celebrations.

I too am glad he won and disappointed in the comments here that say "Well, he isn't Federer or Nadal." I don't think he is trying to be. "Well, Djokovic can't play in the wind therefore Murray didn't deserve to win." Djokovic has a weakness and Murray can play in the wind. Simple as that. He deserves the win and does not deserve to be discredited because Djokovic can't handle wind.

[the taoist]

10:45 AM on 09/11/2012

Looks like training with Lendl has paid off........................ Congrats Mr Murray............

[AbeMartin]

11:00 AM on 09/11/2012

Andy Murray's new anthem (credit, Jim Morrison)

Mr. Mojo Risin', Mr. Mojo Risin'
Mr. Mojo Risin', Mr. Mojo Risin'
Got to keep on risin'
Mr. Mojo Risin', Mr. Mojo Risin'
Mojo Risin', gotta Mojo Risin'
Mr. Mojo Risin', gotta keep on risin'
Risin', risin'
Gone risin', risin'
I'm gone risin', risin'
I gotta risin', risin'
Well, risin', risin'
I gotta, wooo, yeah, risin'
Woah, ohh yeah

[whowhatwhywherewhen]

10:34 AM on 09/11/2012

We watched two of the best US Open Finals ever! Both great, great matches!