Conquering the final frontier – Andy Murray wins Wimbledon

Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen’s Singles Trophy following his victory in the Final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Club on July 7, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

It was not a great match that can be elevated to a classic status. But for a nation waiting to see their very own Wimbledon champion for 77 years, it was a classic fit for the Wimbledon folklores.

The moment Novak Djokovic’s backhand hit the net cord, the collective gasps of spectators were released and the whole arena erupted with joy. Andy Murray just translated their dreams into reality. He won Wimbledon 2013 by defeating Djokovic, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.

The euphoric scenes that had followed just showed how much this win meant for Murray, his team and the crowds. The whole arena along with those crowded in the Murray Mound and Henman Hill exploded with cheers.

The celebrities in the Royal Box were also radiating the joy – from the beaming Gerald Butler, grinning Victoria Beckham, smiling Ivan Lendl and whistling Kim Sears. Even the Wimbledon announcers didn’t try to contain their delight. Murray deserves every bit of adulation and admiration he received. For so long he has been juggled from being Scot to Brit and Brit to Scot, depending on wins and losses.

The British media and fans have always been very harsh towards the Scotsman. His appearance, personality and approach to the game have been a talking point. They didn’t even spare his mother, Judy Murray, and her coaching practices. Before his 2012 US Open victory, Murray was often remained about his four previous defeats and asked this: “Will Andy Murray ever win a Grand Slam?”

Murray’s consistency in the Master’s tournament was not enough for them. Finally when he won 2012 Olympic Gold and US Open, this constant pressure has somewhat eased off from Murray. The money was off his back.

This victory proves that perseverance is the key to success. Murray has been in the shadows of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic for so long. Earlier, he had reached Grand Slam semi-finals and finals, only to bow out by the hands of these players. But with the unwavering faith in his skills and the quest to improve his game, Murray successfully converted the setbacks into laurels. And he has now conquered the final frontier.

Along with Murray’s effort, there are two important things to look at. One is Judy Murray’s determination and support. She is the pillar of support for Murray and is instrumental in moulding his tennis career. The funny or ironic thing is that after winning, while in his hurry to meet everyone in the box, he forgot to hug Judy. He later came back to hug her.

Another factor is the presence of legendary Ivan Lendl in his coaching team. After the appointment of Lendl, Murray has gone from strength to strength. His plan to concentrate on Wimbledon by withdrawing from the French Open was a masterstroke.

But whatever the British press might say, this Wimbledon final can never be considered a great match. The match was in favour of Murray from the get-go, with the crowd behind him from the onset. On the other hand, Djokovic was not at his usual best and made error after error. The better player prevailed – fair and square.

Britain can bask in the glory of Murray’s Wimbledon victory. He conquered the final frontier on grass – in front of his countrymen. Rest assured, for them Andy Murray will forever be ‘the Brit who smashed Fred Perry’s record’.