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19 March 2024

British media rejoice in 'History Boy' Murray's triumph

Gentlemans' Singles Champion, Andy Murray of Great Britain smiles during the Wimbledon Championships 2013 Winners Ball at InterContinental Park Lane Hotel on July 7, 2013 in London, England. (GETTY)

Published
By Reuters

Andy Murray's Wimbledon triumph was lauded in Monday's British newspapers after he beat Novak Djokovic to deliver a long-awaited home success in the men's singles with The Times calling the Scot 'The History Boy'.

'At last' read the front page of the Daily Telegraph sports section next to a picture of the smiling champion, adding: "Murray at the pinnacle of his game as he becomes the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry 77 years ago".

The Daily Mail front page headline was 'Now it'll be arise, Sir Andy' as it raised the prospect of the 26-year-old being knighted alongside a picture of him kissing the gold trophy after beating Serbia's world number one 6-4 7-5 6-4.

The Independent joined in the celebrations with the word 'Champion' on its front page, while its sports section read:
"It was an astonishing end to an astonishing day. Andy Murray secured his lifetime's ambition by winning a final game of nerve shredding drama yesterday that summed up an unforgettable Wimbledon final, full of stunning tennis and with more plot twists than an Alfred Hitchcock thriller."

Most papers ran special supplements on Murray's success and some included victory posters after the Scot ended what The Times called: "The longest yearning in British sport..."

WIMBLEDON FACTS


The last Briton to win the men's title at the world's oldesttennis tournament was Fred Perry in 1936.

Following are 10 facts about the win in 1936 and the 2013 victory:

* Prize money in 1936 was zero compared to 1.6 million pounds ($2.4 million) in 2013.

* Tennis rackets in 1936 were made of laminated wood compared to modern rackets made of graphite, carbon, and titanium.

* Strings for tennis rackets in 1936 were made from fibre sextracted animal intestines while modern strings are mainly synthetic.

* Tennis rackets used to be about 65 square inches (420square cms) in 1936 compared to 90 square inches currently.

* Tennis balls hit by Fred Perry were white while Murray struck 'optic' yellow balls introduced in 1972.

* In 1936, the first Spitfire aircraft took flight and Margaret Mitchell's novel 'Gone with the Wind' was published.

* King George V died in 1936, handing the British crown to Edward VIII who abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating 61 years as British monarch in 2013.

* The most popular song of the year in 1936 was 'Pennies from Heaven' by Bing Crosby while the chart-topping song on Sunday in the UK was 'Love Me Again' by John Newman.

* Biggest sporting event in 1936 was the Berlin Olympics opened by Adolf Hitler at which Jesse Owen won four gold medals.

* Other notable events in 1936 include the industrial manufacture of the first parking metres and the Queen Mary completing her maiden voyage to New York.