ANDY MURRAY ENDS BRITAIN’S 76-YR DROUGHT OF US GRAM SLAM

Murray, 25, emulated Fred Perry's 1936 achievement, winning 7-6 (12-10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 in four hours 54 minutes in the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Murray also reached the Wimbledon final and won Olympic gold this summer.

"When I realized I had won, I was a little bit shocked, I was very relieved and I was very emotional," said Murray.

Despite his other successes, this result will arguably have a greater impact on his career and the future of tennis in the United Kingdom.

Murray - the new world number three - lost his first four Grand Slam finals to share an Open-era record with coach Ivan Lendl, but like the Czech he has triumphed at the fifth time of asking.

And while it is a dream of Murray's to win Wimbledon, the British number one has long been tipped to make his breakthrough at Flushing Meadows in the final major of the year.

He was the boys' singles champion there in 2004, hard courts are his favorite surface and he enjoys the atmosphere in New York.

Murray is unlikely to ever forget the atmosphere inside the world's biggest tennis arena as he celebrated his success, which arrived in his 28th appearance at a Grand Slam tournament.