If there is any player who has been closest to the Big 3 in terms of wins and records in the past 15 years, it is Britain’s Andy Murray. He is the only player to have become World Number 1 in the Big 3 era. Murray has also managed to reach 11 Slam finals winning 3 out of them. Let’s look back as those 3 wins of this British legend.
3. US Open 2012
The year 2012 truly marked a breakthrough in Andy Murray’s great career. The Brit made it to his 1st Wimbledon final but was denied the title by Federer. He however won the Olympic Gold Medal for Britain that year.
However, it was in September 2012 at the US Open that Murray came of age. He looked ominous in the 1st week brushing aside big servers like Feliciano Lopez and Milos Raonic. Murray would then defeat Marin Cilic and Tomas Berdych to set up a final clash with the defending Champ Novak Djokovic.
Murray took the 1st two sets looking closer than ever to his 1st Grand Slam glory. However, Djokovic came back strongly to win next 2 sets and with the Serb in control, Murray looked to be destined for disappointment again. The Brit however was determined to not finish at losing end this time and would break Djokovic twice in the 5th set to take it 6-2. This gave Murray his 1st Grand Slam.
2. Wimbledon 2013
If Wimbledon 2012 gave Andy Murray heartbreak, Wimbledon 2013 gave him the everlasting glory. Britain had not seen a home grown Wimbledon Champion for 77 years. Murray was determined to change the course of history and even the 2012 defeat did not deter his determination.
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Murray pushed through the draw with relative ease before meeting Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-final. The match would go to 5 sets and Murray had to come from behind to win the last 3 sets and clinch the match. Murray won the semis also and met his arch-rival Novak Djokovic in the final.
However, the Brit took control of the game right from the 1st set and won it in 3 sets to win his 1st Wimbledon Championships. This would be the finest moment of Murray’s career.
1. Wimbledon 2016
Wimbledon 2016 saw Murray coming after his defeat to Novak Djokovic in France a months earlier. The Brit however looked ominous on the home soil brushing aside Australian future stars John Millman and Nick Kyrgios in 3rd and 4th round. He faced Frenchman Tsonga in the quarters in a match which went up to 5 sets. Murray however came on the winning side.
With Fedrerer and Djokovic out before the final, Murray looked a firm favorite. He Tomas Berdych in the semis in straight sets and repeated the performance against Milos Raonic in the final to lift his 2nd Wimbledon Championship.