Murray wins first grand slam after marathon match

ANDY MURRAY ended Britain's 76-year wait for men's Grand Slam glory and admitted his "relief" after claiming the US Open title.

The Scot defeated defending champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (12/10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in a marathon final in the early hours of this morning to finally win his first major title at the fifth time of asking.

And, after the four hour and 54 minute clash on Arthur Ashe court, the 25-year-old said: "It was an incredibly tough match and obviously it felt great at the end.

"Relief is probably the best word I would use to describe how I'm feeling just now. I'm very, very happy that I managed to come through because if I had lost this one from two sets up, that would have been a tough one to take.

"I was still doubting myself right up to a few minutes before going on to play the match. It's something I have never done before.

"I have been in this position many times and not managed to get through.

"I am just so relieved to finally have got there and I can put this one behind me and hopefully win more.

"I think just proving to myself is probably the most pleasing part about this, because there were times when I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it."

In windy conditions, Murray was twice a break up in the opening set before finally clinching it on his sixth set point.

He then let a 4-0 lead slip away in the second but still came out on top to move to within one set of victory against a man who had not lost a Grand Slam match on a hard court for two years.

But Djokovic hit back to level at two sets all before Murray responded with a double break. And after the Serb took a medical time out at 5-2 Murray served out the match.

"At the beginning of the fifth set I went to the toilet and I said to myself 'you've got one set, give it all you've got'," he said.

"I got lucky with the net cord on the break point and I settled down a bit after that. It was just guts at the end."

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