Sports

Wasn’t easy, but Murray finally triumphs in Grand Slam final

FIRST KISS! Andy Murray kisses the U.S. Open championship trophy after defeating defending champ Novak Djokovic in five sets for his first Grand Slam title last night in Flushing Meadows. (REUTERS)

Andy Murray, a skeptic by nature, didn’t dare think this was going to be easy, did he?

Even at age 25, four devastating losses in Grand Slam finals had to have triggered human nature to leave him wondering whether it was ever going to happen for him.

Last night, under the lights in the U.S. Open final at an electrically charged Arthur Ashe Stadium — after taking a two-set lead on defending champion Novak Djokovic and then losing it — it finally happened for Murray.

He finally persevered, finally won a Grand Slam title.

Finally.

And it didn’t come easily.

Murray backed up the Olympic gold medal he captured last month in London and overcame Djokovic 7-6 (10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2.

“I was obviously very emotional. I cried a little bit on the court,’’ Murray said. “You’re in a little bit of disbelief, because when I have been in that position many times before and not won, you do think, ‘Is it ever going to happen?’ ’’

And as much as the match will be known for going five grueling sets in four hours and 54 minutes, it will forever be remembered for the epic first set that set the tone for the match.

When I go to a Bruce Springsteen concert, regardless of how long the show is or what other songs he plays from the set list, if he plays “Jungleland’’ I go home having gotten more than my money’s worth.

I can say the same thing about that first set last night — 87 minutes of riveting tennis won by Murray, 12-10, in a 25-minute tiebreaker, the longest in tournament history for a men’s final.

The match was best-of-five sets, but those 87 minutes Murray and Djokovic delivered were all you needed witness to feel like you were at a special event.

Murray, desperately seeking his first career Slam after coming so tantalizingly close to tasting the nectar in his previous four finals, closed out the first set with a service winner on the 22nd point of the breaker.

Survival came on his sixth set point. Had Murray not won that set, you wouldn’t have been out of line to wonder if he would ever win a Grand Slam title after having all of those set points on his racket and failing to close it out.

Murray’s grit in that set is precisely what drew Ivan Lendl to coach him when they first began meeting last December.

“Hard work,’’ said Lendl, who built himself into the best player in the world by outworking everyone. “He’s not afraid of it.’’

When the historic tiebreak was over, it appeared Murray had broken the will of Djokovic, who quickly fell behind 4-0 in the second set with two Murray breaks of serve. At that point, it looked like Murray’s first Grand Slam might become a slam dunk.

But nothing, of course, comes easily for Murray, who carried the weight of the entire United Kingdom on his back, trying to end a 76-year drought without a British Grand Slam winner dating back to Fred Perry in 1936.

“It does build pressure,’’ Murray said. “You try not to think about that when you’re playing, but when I was serving for the match I did realize how important that moment was for British tennis.’’

Murray was faced with becoming the second player to lose his first five Grand Slam finals. When it was over, though, he left no doubt.

“Before the match, I was thinking I didn’t really want to be that person,’’ Murray said. “I was nervous before the match. I was doubting myself a bit.’’

Murray lost the second set 6-2 and the third 6-3 and somehow summoned the energy and courage to overcome Djokovic in the fifth and deciding set to realize his dream.

If you’re seeking some cosmic symmetry on this magical night: In 1984, Lendl entered the French Open having lost his first four Grand Slam finals and he overcame a two-set deficit vs. John McEnroe to win his first Slam.

Lendl went on to win seven more Grand Slam titles in his brilliant career. Who knows, now that he has liberated himself, how many more Murray has in him?