Crowning glory: Murray victory puts seal on golden summer

The Olympic champion claimed a stunning win against Novac Djokovic in the US Open final in New York after a gruelling five-set match lasting nearly five hours.

It means the 76-year wait for a British male tennis grand slam winner is finally over – the last man to achieve that feat was Fred Perry at the US Open in 1936.

An exhausted Murray dropped to his haunches and held his head in his hands as the enormity of his achievement began to dawn on him after he won the final point of the match, later admitting his primary emotion was one of relief after he lost the previous four major finals in which he appeared.

Yesterday in New York’s Central Park, he said: “It’s been an unbelievable few months, with the Olympics and Paralympics, amazing support, it makes a huge difference to how everyone performs, so thank you.”

Tributes to Murray’s achievements have flooded in and plans to mark his achievements are already being laid with calls for him to be knighted amid further speculation his victory could earn him millions in sponsorship deals.

His win has further added to debate over the BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner after a year of outstanding sporting achievement.