Andy Murray: A King is Born in Old New York
I got into tennis in the years of Tim Henman, and he was the name on any person’s lips but not now, now it is time for Murray mania.
A man stands at one end of the court, sweat dripping, heart pounding, at 40-15 up against the defending champion. That man, none other than Britains Andy Murray. Is the 76 year wait over? Is this the moment he makes history? He serves, Novak Djokovic attacks, but whats that you say? The ball is long? It is, the ball goes long, Andy Murray is the US Open champion. For years and years, Britain waited, through the generations of players that have come and gone, ones that have gotten close and others not so much. As a young boy, I got into tennis in the years of Tim Henman, and he was the name on any persons lips but not now, now it is time for Murray mania. In 2005, Andy Murray burst onto the scene after being handed a wildcard for Wimbledon. He was ranked 312th, but he became the first Scotsman in the open era to reach the third round. The fun, luckily for us, did not stop there. Andy went from strength to strength, but the overriding problem always seemed to be his attitude, and his love for losing his head when he needed it most. It was not until 2008 that Murray reached his first grand slam final, but most would not call it a final, most would probably call it a lesson in the art of winning by the games great Roger Federer. 
Murray then went on to add finals at the Australian Open to his rapidly improving CV, but sadly both were, yet again, straight set defeats. He found the going tough as world number four with his efforts always seeming to come up too short against the undisputed best three players in the world. It was not until last year when the great Ivan Lendl took up the position as Murrays coach, that everyone really started to stand up and believe that Andy Murray was going to one day become a Grand Slam champion. Lendl hasnt just helped the way in which Murray plays, but he has transformed his attitude. Gone are the days where Murray would moan at himself after every single point, and the days where he would throw his racket around like youd just taken away his favourite toy. Yes, Andy does still have his little tantrums and whine, but it is becoming more of a rarity, than a second natured response when the going gets tough. Andy has performed tremendously well under Lendl, reaching at least the quarter final stage in each of the grand slams this season. He also became the man to end the 74 year wait of a British Wimbledon finalist this last season, yet again losing out to Rodger Federer. Then came the Olympics, and what an Olympic Games for the man from Dunblane. He was reborn, blowing away whoever was one the other side of the court. Murray drew Novak Djokovic in the semi final, with most neutral fans backing the Serb, Andy made him look like an amateur who had just received a wildcard. Then came the final, the grudge match with Rodger Federer who 28 days earlier, had destroyed Murrays Wimbledon dreams. Was revenge on the cards? You bet it was. The final was the only five set match to be played at The Olympics and Andy Murray waltzed through in, winning in straight sets and claiming the gold medal. He wasnt finished there though. 
The US Open is the last grand slam of the season, played on a hard court in the glorious city of New York. With Rafael Nadal still injured, and Tomas Berdych disposing of Roger Federer, Andy Murrays chances were increasing by the minute. The only problem and you guessed it, the man from Serbia, Novak Djokovic. Undoubtedly the two best players of the tournament went head to head in the final, and what a final. The first set alone took a lung busting 87 minutes to complete, with Murray finally clinching it 12-10 in the breaker. The man from Scotland then going from strength to strength to claim the second set 7-5. If you though it was plain sailing from then on in, you were very mistaken. Djokovic fought back, and within the blink of an eye, the fifth set was coming up. Andy Murray raced through the decider, taking it 6-2. How on earth he did it, well you will have to ask him. The end was over. The champagne was on ice and the purple patch was starting and for once, I am pretty sure he was glad his mother was there watching. Andy Murray, 2012 US Open Champion, sounds good, doesnt it?