'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
“The sun never sets in the British Empire.”
That was how the British proudly used to boast about their power when they were in control of almost all parts of the globe. There were hardly a few places in the world, which were left unconquered by them. Having expanded their territory so by adding innumerable colonies, they had made sure that the Sun was always visible somewhere in their Kingdom. Prior to the completion of World War II, many countries had to indulge in relentless struggle against the British to free themselves and attain independence. After a long wait and persistent battles, nearly all the countries were finally freed from the rule of the British.
As they say no one can escape from his “Karma”, so was the case with the British Empire too. Just like they delayed giving independence to other countries, they were made to wait for decades together in realising a particular dream, which had been eluding them for quite a while.
For more than 76 years, they were on the look out for a men’s singles champion at the All England Club but in vain. Let alone Wimbledon, a Briton was not able to win any of the other Grand Slams either. Such had been their plight for a long time until a certain Scot called Andy Murray arrived on the scene, giving them a glimmer of hope whenever he entered a Tennis court. Since he looked more equipped than any of his predecessors in winning Wimbledon, he had to carry the burden of the entire nation upon his shoulders, whenever he wielded the Tennis racquet. Despite possessing the requisite talent, he was unable to close out important matches many a time due to lack of temperament.
With the entire nation building their hopes around him, he was in desperate need of sorting out the roadblocks which stood in his way. In a move, which later on would prove to be highly beneficial, he hired the former eight time Grand Slam champion, Ivan Lendl, to coach him. Under his guidance, he was able to correct not only a few technical flaws in his game, but also could mature mentally as a player. Not expecting the move to reap benefits immediately, he waited for things to happen patiently by constantly improvising on his game. So, by doing basic things right, duly aided by hard work, he found himself within touching distance of giving what his countrymen desired for so long.
He made his way into his first ever final at Wimbledon last year with the then six times champion Roger Federer as his opponent. He soon had the crowd yell in delight, when he won the first set at the expense of the great Swiss. Just when it looked as though he was already had one hand on the trophy, the experienced Swiss Maestro pulled things off in the next three sets, thereby capturing the trophy for the seventh time in his career. Andy cried buckets during presentation only to be consoled by his adversary, who acknowledged the former’s effort saying he would win a Grand Slam soon.
Having earned a name for himself in the grass court Grand Slam, he carried his form all the way to the London Olympics, where players like Djokovic and Federer had some unfinished business to begin with. With Rafa opting out of the tournament, they both started fancying their chances. Little did anyone realise by then that they were about to see some breath-taking heroics from the Scot who seemed to be jinxed in bigger tournaments. Though wearing a Gold medal around the neck had never been his priority, he wanted a win in London O2 very badly. The venue was after all was the All England Club, where he was expected to break the 76 years long jinx.
Pitted against players like Wawrinka, Gasquet, and Berdych, his quarter always looked like a hard nut to crack. But fresh from his accomplishments at Wimbledon, Andy proved to be unstoppable. So much so, he made a resolute Djokovic eat a humble pie by prevailing over him in straight sets in one of the semifinals. On the other hand, Roger Federer had to dig deep against Juan Martin del Potro, in the other semifinal.
That set up another rollicking confrontation on grass in less than a month between Murray and Federer – this time though – for the Olympic Gold Medal. As always on grass, the Swiss started as the favourite to win the final. The fact that the British No. 1 had never beaten Federer before in a best of five-setter did not augur well in former’s favour either. Andy served first and immediately saw his opponent just a point away from breaking him. That was the only time in the whole match the Scot was in any sort of trouble. He saved the break point and got out of the jail much to the relief of the live audience. After that, it was all Murray’s show.
The promised land
The first two sets ended in no time with the local favourite reigning supreme in both. Never before in his career, Federer had to meet such an ignominy on grass. Murray gave him a pounding of his life time through some mind-blowing forehands, leaving Federer clueless. The Swiss tried everything possible to avoid the humiliation of losing in straight sets, but Murray was in no mood to sympathise whatsoever. The roar which followed Andy’s victory in straight sets over his most celebrated opponent, said it all.
It was definitely not a Grand Slam, but it was almost like winning one, as the Gold medalist himself later revealed. That was the tiny spark which the Brit needed to restructure his career. It did not take time for him to realise his dream as his moment of glory followed very soon. He reached the final of the US Open for only the second time in his career. This time though, he was not ready to capitulate. By winning the US Open last year by beating Novak Djokovic in the final, he captured his first ever Grand Slam title. More importantly, he got through that final in five sets.
Normally, he was not known to show any kind of resilience when matches go the distance. But, it was one of those days when Andy showed to the whole world that he had it in him, the tenacity to maintain his mental stamina as long as his presence was required on the court. Having won his first ever Grand Slam, it became imperative for him to win a few more to stop being regarded as a “one-slam wonder.” The Brit did precisely that. Despite losing out in the final of this year’s Australian Open, he hardly let go his focus.
He chose to stay away from French Open where his chances of winning were not that great and instead laid his concentration firmly on Wimbledon. The ploy worked as he relished the moment of lifting the Wimbledon trophy for the first time ever in his career. Dominating the entire match, he swept past the World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets, providing much needed relief for all British fans who were happy to see the nearly eight decade long jinx to see a men’s singles champion at Wimbledon finally coming to an end. It would only be an understatement if we cite his Olympic triumph as the reason for all his subsequent achievements. If Murray becomes the proud owner of a few more slams, he would be looking back at his Olympic triumph, which started it all for him.
