Forget the fact that football season has started and Monday night's are reserved for them. Forget the fact that two divisional battles are occurring in Cincinnati v. Baltimore and San Diego v. Oakland. This Monday was reserved for tennis. The men's US Open final, Andy Murray v. Novak Djokavic. It was never-won-major-before v. reigning champ. The match started at 4 PM, EST. The match ended at 9:04 PM, EST. It wasn't too long either. In fact, I'm sure there are some people out there that wanted it to go on longer. The 5-setter made more and more history as it went on.
The match was tight in the beginning as the first set went over an hour and a half. Murray pulled out the incredible set with a 12-10 tiebreak victory. The tiebreak itself lasted nearly a half an hour. Murray then pulled away in set number two going up 3 love. Djokavic then came back to make it interesting, Murray managed to pull out this set two as well, 7-5. A note should be made that it was very windy tonight in Queens, and the conditions were playing with Djokavic's mind. He would figure it out soon enough though.
The third and fourth sets belonged to Novak Djokavic. I, and everyone else, think that the pressure of winning your first major, and being the first British tennis player to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936, got to Andy Murray. Unforced errors and an overall lack of focus plagued Murray in the middle sets. Simultaneously, Djokavic got used to the conditions and found his serve. He dominated sets three and four, 6-2, 6-3, and set up a winner-take-all fifth set.
This fifth set was packed with would be history-making moments. Besides the achievements I just stated for Murray, he was also trying to become the first man since John McEnroe in 1980 to win the US Open after winning the first sets and then losing the next two. Djokavic was trying to become the first man since Pancho Gonzales in 1945 to win the US Open down two sets. The match itself was slowly reaching the mark for longest match in US Open history. This epic set did not seem to last very long though.
Novak Djokavic was first to serve in the final set. Murray acted quickly in obtaining the advantage, getting the early break. Murray then held his break by holding his serve. Murray, seemingly rejuvenated, then broke Djokavic again. Djokavic, trying to regain the control he had in the third and fourth sets, won back-to-back games, making it 3-2 Murray. But Murray was not to be denied this time as he won the final three games, taking the match 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2. It looked like Djokavic's body started to give out on his as cramps spread through his legs, causing him to call on the trainer before the final game of the match. Djokavic played out the final game nonetheless, choosing against retiring. This is not to take away from Murray though as he fought hard against the master of precision, and pulled out on top.
Murray's victory gives him his first major, coming off his Olympic gold in London, and finally gives the country of Great Britain a tennis champion at a major tournament. It also means Murray joins John McEnroe as the only player to win the US Open after leading by two sets and the match ends up going five. Murray wins what ends up being the longest match in US Open history, officially clocked at 4:54 just shy of 5 hours. Not coincidentally, Murray becomes the second man to win his first major on his fifth try. The other man was the man he hired to be his coach not too long ago, Ivan Lendl, who was his first Grand Slam in 1984 at the French Open.
Overall, the match was one of the best matches that will ever be played at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The wind factor frustrated both players, but made for a better match. The ball was flying all over the court. I have never seen the ball fly with so much zip before, although I do not watch tennis all that often. I'm glad I tuned into this one. Andy Murray and Novak Djokavic stole the show away from the NFL. Tonight it wasn't Monday Night Football; it was Monday Night Tennis.
References
http://espn.go.com/tennis/usopen12/story/_/id/8364201/2012-us-open-andy-murray-wins-first-slam-novak-djokovic-rally-fizzles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Perry#Singles:_10_.288_titles.2C_2_runner-ups.29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McEnroe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancho_Gonzales
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Lendl#Career_statistics
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