Andy Murray beats Novak Djokovic at U.S. Open to win major title

It was different this time.

Murray, a slightly sarcastic, totally emotional 25-year-old Scotsman who had played in four previous major tournament finals, won his first Monday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Murray withstood the furious will of second-seeded and defending champion Novak Djokovic to win the U.S. Open title, 7-6 (10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in the rain-delayed final Monday night. Murray became the first British man since Fred Perry won Wimbledon in 1936 to take one of the four biggest titles -- the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon or U.S. Open.

Djokovic saved one match point but on the second he sent a forehand long. Murray went to his knees and covered his mouth and then the tears came, well-deserved after a match that lasted nearly five hours.

With the Olympic gold medal he recently won as his biggest tournament prize, Murray can now rightly be referred to as one of the "big four." For several years Murray was always a distant fourth to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, who have all been ranked No. 1 in the world. But those men were winning major titles. Murray was just losing to them in the semifinals or finals.