A moment in time: The fairytale of New York – Andy Murray claims his first Grand Slam

There will be no Andy Murray-Novak Djokovic reunion at the 2022 Madrid Open, but we are all nostalgic and decided to go back in time to relive Murray’s 2012 US Open victory over Djokovic.

When Andy Murray was defeated in four sets by Roger Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final, the Scot tried to hold back the tears during a gracious but emotive post-match speech. “I’m getting closer,” he said with a deadpan delivery and a smile that translated into “help me”. He could “cry like Roger” but wished he could play like him. Things changed that day on July 8. Britain’s best tennis player was loved.

The SW19 defeat was Murray’s fourth Grand Slam final loss and his mother talked of the total devastation that would follow in the days after. There were key signs of progress though. Boris Becker insisted that the 25-year-old had “played like a champion”. He took the game to the Swiss, broke him immediately and wasn’t far from going two sets up.

Crucially, there was much to take the mind off the loss with the reset of a glorious Olympic summer in London.

Just four weeks later, Murray took his A-game onto the same court to annihilate the same opponent in straight sets for a gold medal. The festival atmosphere of that Sunday in August was a catalyst for ending the nearly man narrative.

Murray had also defeated Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-5 in the semi-final on the way. It was an important staging post for what was to come in Flushing Meadows. He was a different beast at the Olympic version of Wimbledon, spanking volleys, dinking delightful drop shots and generally playing up to a looser vibe in the crowd. “It’s the most fun I’ve had at any tournament,” he declared after beating the Serb.

He bounced into the US Open with vigour, powering past