ANDY Murray today admitted he’s delighted to have ended Britain’s 76 year wait for a Grand Slam victory.
The Scot made history after beating Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set US Open final at New York’s Flushing Meadows.
Murray said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling.
“I can hardly express how delighted I am to have done this. I’m still buzzing from the excitement of it all.
“There were times, for sure, like after Wimbledon this year, for a few days afterwards you think, ‘is it ever going to happen?’
“Obviously, I have been competing against some of the best players of all time, which makes it harder.
“It has been incredibly tough for me, mentally. There are no easy matches.
“I just managed to fight through in the end this time, so I’m very happy.
“Hopefully I can push on from here.”
The 25-year-old won his first grand slam at his fifth attempt – the same as his coach, Ivan Lendl.
The win also made Dunblane-born Murray the first man to win Olympic singles gold and the US Open in the same year.
Murray took his crown after a tempestuous four hours and 54 minutes of play, eventually winning the match 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2.
As the match ended Murray dropped to his haunches and held his head in his hands as the enormity of his achievement sunk in.
And after Djokovic graciously congratulated the victor, Murray finally accepted his first Grand Slam trophy, kissing the silverware and lifting it to the sky.
Murray said of his epic victory: “They were incredibly tricky conditions.
“After the third and fourth sets it was tough mentally – Novak is so strong.
“He fights until the end of every match and I don’t know how I managed to come through.”
Murray the paid tribute to coach stoney-faced coach Ivan Lendl, who he took on to help him become a grand slam winner. He said: “That was almost a smile there from Ivan! “He’s one of greatest players ever to play, here.
“Having him here supporting me has helped in the tough moments, but not only him, everyone else too. They’ve been there from the start.”
After winning the first two sets of the match in very windy conditions, it looked like another chance was slipping through the Scot’s fingers when the 2011 champion fought back to level at two sets all.
However, the Scot explained that he took a toilet break before the start of the decider to regain his composure.
“The wind calmed down towards the end of the second set and I had to change the way I was playing a bit because he was then dictating more of the points and he started going for it a bit more.
“I was still playing the same way as when it was windy and I was kind of guiding the ball a little bit and was only reaching the middle of the court.
“At the beginning of the fifth set I went to the toilet and I said to myself, ’for one set, just give it everything you’ve got’.”
But, watched by his fellow countrymen, Sir Sean Connery and Sir Alex Ferguson Murray powered his way to three games to love up.
At 5-2 up and with three championship points in Murray’s favour, Djokovic hit a forehand over the baseline to give British tennis fans the win they have craved for so many years. The victory has banished the 76 years of hurt and has finally ended Fred Perry’s reign as Britain’s last male grand slam singles champion.
Perry, who won the last of his majors at the US Open in 1936, could hardly have imagined it would take until 2012 before the feat would be matched.
Murray continued: “Right now, there’s a lot of relief mixed with pride.The body’s hurting a bit but it was worth it.”