New York fairytale: British press go gaga over Murray win

‘Historic first Major’, ‘Fairytale in New York’ screamed the British press this morning after Andy Murray became the first British man in 76 years to win a Grand Slam singles title. Murray’s heroic US Open win was, expectedly, the top story across all major British newspapers as they celebrated the Scot’s maiden Slam triumph, after four previous failed attempts. “Thank God that’s over. Thank God we can let Fred Perry lie easy. Thank God for Andy Murray,” wrote the Guardian newspaper website. Writing in The Guardian , Kevin Mitchell helps us, the non-Brits, get a perspective of what the achievement means for a nation which has been patiently waiting all these years for their big moment on tennis’ grandest stage. [caption id=“attachment_451054” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The fairytale moment: AP[/caption] “Few sporting voyages have carried such baggage, and Murray’s alone has resembled a flea carrying a piano up a mountain. In a single win, hair ruffling his Scottish locks, Murray put a deal of pain to rest.” Mitchell also mentions the two people without which Murray wouldn’t have made it this far - Judy, his mother and Ivan Lendl, his maverick coach who he tied up with just before the Australian Open this year. Lendl, like Murray, lost his first four Slam finals and Mitchell says he suspects the Czech-American was the one to approach Murray to team up. The results have since been there for all to see with the Olympic gold and the US Open now belonging to Britain, which was starved of any major success on a tennis court since 1936. Interestingly, as The Telegraph tells us, “before these players (Djokovic and Murray) went on court in Melbourne in January, Lendl told Murray: “You’ll win, but you’re going to have to go through a lot of pain to get there, so be ready for that.” Lendly may have been off the mark then, but he was spot on yesterday. Maybe, now Lendl may just want to make a proper contract with the Scot, which until now has been put down on pretty vague terms! The Telegraph carries an emotional kicker reminding readers that “it only took 237 Grand Slam tournaments. But Great Britain has a new champion to put alongside the memory of Fred Perry, and his name is Andy Murray.” Tom Fordyce, Chief sports writer, BBC Sport, says Britain’s not going to forget these few months in a hurry. “Andy Murray’s nerve-mangling, history-making US Open triumph over Novak Djokovic was many things: one of the great finals of the modern era, a late-night thriller from the city that never sleeps, a breath-taking demonstration of physical strength and mental fortitude. It was also the perfect bookend to a few months that British sport can scarcely believe and will never forget.” Mark Petchey, Murray’s former coach, told British broadcaster Sky, “I’m more thrilled he’s won it like this. It shows he’s unique and a bit special. It speaks volumes for Andy.” Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski, who lost the 1997 US Open final to Australia’s Pat Rafter, told Sky Sports: “That was unbelievable. If you look back, Fred Perry won his last major on 10 September, and Andy Murray has won it on 10 September.” Canadian-born Rusedski predicted more major titles for Murray. “It shows you what a champion he is and, having won this, he can go on to win many majors and maybe end the year as the British number one,” he said. Yankee Doodle Andy, as The Sun called him, your nation now awaits your return. To embrace its hero and shed a few tears of pure joy. With inputs from AP