Oh – I say!

It seems felicitous today to appropriate the catchphrase of the inimitable Dan Maskell, the English tennis player and Davis Cup coach who – post-retirement – became even better know as the BBC’s ‘Voice of Tennis’.

Congratulations indeed to Andy Murray who – at the fifth time of asking and following on from his splendid Olympic gold but a few weeks ago – finally won the major title that had thus far eluded him and was crowned US Open Champion late last night. Murray – and the entire nation – breathed a huge sigh of relief. Now that the citadel has been breached there is nothing to stop him marching forth and – hopefully – claiming the Wimbledon victory that everybody – himself included – surely inevitably sees as the real prize.

Murray’s triumph added a final exhilarating coda to the spectacular British summer of sport, in which this victory and Bradley Wiggins’ magnificent Tour de France tour de force parenthesised the wonders of the Olympic and Paralympic campaigns. I simply can’t remember a sporting summer to compare…

My only gripe last night was that the time difference between the UK and Flushing Meadow – not abetted by the epic nature of the match – left me – and many others – short of sleep. After the marathon 90 minute first set – and the erratic but more rapid progress of the second – I could hardly go to bed with Murray a mere set away from victory. By the end of the third – which featured Djokovic’s initial spirited fightback – it really was getting very late. Surely Murray would close out the fourth? I clambered into bed, armed with the Galaxy Note so that I could get my fix of updates from the InterWebNet.

As one would expect given the class of the opposition nothing would be that easy, and I finally gave up as Djokovic’s sterling challenge increased in ferocity and he levelled the match at two sets all. The next thing I knew was that I was suddenly wide awake in the middle of the night and blinking myopically in the darkness. I fumbled for the Note and hit refresh. Murray had done it!!!

Hearty congratulations to both players for such a magnificent contest. A fitting way to end the summer.

Now I need to lie down in a darkened room…