Over the weekend I wasn’t up to much so I settled in to watch the tennis, the US open to be exact.  Oh how I love having Sky Sports, there’s always something on.

Scotland’s Andy Murray had done really well during the week to reach the semi final.  The other men left were the top three seeds and Murray looked favourite to be knocked out, especially considering he was against the world number one, Rafa Nadal.  Nadal has had an outstanding season winning the French Open, Wimbledon and the Olympic Gold medal.  Murray was going to be up against it.

The forecast told us that this match was going to be interrupted by rain but when the players took to the court in the searing heat they knew that getting off to a good start would be vital.  Murray started really well, his serving was amazing and he took the first set 6-2.  I wondered if this would be short lived and if Nadal would just go up a gear and totally outplay the young scot, but this was not to be, the second set went to a tie break which Murray took.

I couldn’t believe it, and neither could the crowd, Nadal was down 2 sets!!!  The third set was underway and Nadal was up a break when the storm came and the match was called off for the day.  I’m sure Marray was on cloud nine but Nadal had taken 11 straight sets off him in the past so he must have known that he was still up against it.

Last night the players took to the court once more.  The heat wasn’t quite as debilitating as the day before and the question on everyone’s lips was could Murray keep playing to the same standard or would Nadal come out and make short work of it.  Nadal served first and held to love with an amazing display in his opening game.  Murray however countered with an equally impressive service game and was obviously sending out a message that he wasn’t giving up.

Nadal managed to hold his service games and take the third set 6-4 but Murray had made him work for it.  It looked as if this match was going to be decided by the fourth set as you’d imagine a fifth would be too much for Murray.  Both players were playing great tennis and the crowd was loving it.  The 21 year old Murray was aiming to be the first Briton in a grand slam final since the 30’s but he didn’t crumble and you just couldn’t help but cheer him on.

The fourth set was a real corker and to everyone’s delight Murray managed to win it 6-4, even coming back from a break down to do it.  A truly amazing achievement.  He had never beaten Nadal, in five previous meetings, but now is assured of a seeding of four when the tournament ends.

He meets Federer in the final, a man going for his fifth US Open title.  Federer is probably smiling ear to ear knowing that he has been spared a meeting with the ever capable Nadal, but he’d be mistaken to think that the final is a foregone conclusion as Murray should now fear no one.

It was somewhat a David and Goliath contest and the fact that Murray could win in such style is what sport is all about.  I wish him well in todays final.

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