London 2012: Andy Murray holds his nerve to win gold against Roger Federer | Sport | The Guardian Olympics 2012: tennis London 2012: Andy Murray holds his nerve to win gold against Roger Federer The Scot beat the most successful tennis player of all time 6-2 6-1 6-4 at Wimbledon to seal Britain's 16th gold medal Olympics 2012: tennis London 2012: Andy Murray holds his nerve to win gold against Roger Federer The Scot beat the most successful tennis player of all time 6-2 6-1 6-4 at Wimbledon to seal Britain's 16th gold medal Monday 6 August 2012 03.20 EDT First published on Monday 6 August 2012 03.20 EDT Close This article is 4 years old The atmosphere on Wimbledon's Centre Court at just after 4 o'clock on Sunday afternoon was part hysteria, part disbelief.

Roger Federer , the greatest player ever to grace the game of tennis, had just been demolished 6-2 6-1 6-4 in a shade under two hours by Andy Murray, who produced a performance of breathtaking power and passion to win the gold medal. Murray looked as stunned as everyone else when he produced a succession of aces to close out the match. Instead of sinking to the floor or leaping the net in the traditional manner, he just stood there. Then, after a few seconds, the realisation dawned - he had just annihilated his old nemesis and was Britain's first Olympic men's singles champion since Josiah Ritchie in 1908. Odd how 1908 is becoming the touchstone for so much at these Olympics. As Federer left the court - can he ever have suffered such a humiliation? - Murray, emulating Pat Cash when he became Wimbledon champion in 1987, scaled the stands to make his way into the box reserved for friends and family, where he embraced girlfriend, father, coaches and, finally, his mother, the indomitable Judy, who tempered the metal from which the gold was made. The ultimate alchemist.

Last month, when he lost to Federer in the Wimbledon final, Murray blubbed, feeling he'd let down the hopes of a nation. This time he was completely in control - both during the match, in which he showed unrelenting concentration, and during the medal ceremony that followed. As he left the court with the gold round his neck, his final gesture was to shake the hand of a small boy at the side of the court. Don't wash that hand, son. Someday it will be worth a fortune on eBay. Afterwards, he said he had been inspired by both the crowd and the performances of his fellow athletes in Team GB . "I watched the athletics last night, and it gave me a boost coming into today. The momentum the team's had the last couple of days has been so good." He said he was surprised to have won gold. "I didn't expect that at the start of the week. I had a chance of going deep into the tournament, but I was a little bit tired after Wimbledon, and playing the mixed as well. But I felt so fresh. On the court today I didn't really feel nervous at all, apart from at the beginning of the match.

I've had a lot of tough losses in my career, and this is the best way to come back. I'll never forget it." Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be a union jack umbrella seller was very heaven. It bucketed down all morning at Wimbledon. But the rain relented just in time for the patriotic decision to be made to open the roof - all the pundits reckoned Murray's best chance was en plein air. Every cloud had a golden lining. Murray, who has never won a Grand Slam, had made it clear all week that this meant just as much as one of the big four titles. He was relishing playing for his country, and the crowd on centre court drove him on. When he broke Federer's serve early in the first set, the noise was enough to lift the roof - had it been on. The brutal forehand that secured the opening point of the next game produced another eruption. Federer had a few supporters in the crowd, but they were overwhelmed. The greatest player of all time was being swept away by a passionate Scot and his 15,000 acolytes. It was not always thus.

"I didn't used to like him - he was no Tim," said Sian Jenkins, who had taken up residence with a group of friends on Murray Mount (formerly Henman Hill). "I started liking him when he showed some emotion after losing to Federer in the Wimbledon final. He really cares. You can see how much it means to him." Murray Mount was a sea of union flags, and there was hardly a saltire in sight - this has been a tricky week for Alex Salmond, with a vibrant new Britishness born before our eyes. The only St Andrew's crosses visible were painted on the faces of a family who had travelled down from Edinburgh, and even they were sitting on a large union flag. The Olympics at Wimbledon is subtly different from the annual championship. It's not just that Adele is blasting out on the concourse, white towels have replaced the Wimbledon-branded ones, and the posh stewards with purple arm bands have given way to policemen with machine guns. There is a different atmosphere; a more full-throated patriotism. For one week, the All-England club has become the All-British club, though chants of "Team GB, Team GB" still sound odd. This is Wimbledon, after all, not Wyoming.

The second set turned on a monumental 15-minute game, when Federer - who was 2-0 down - tried to turn the screw on Murray. In the Wimbledon final, Murray had taken an early advantage and then been hauled back, but here he was indomitable, matching everything Federer could throw at him and saving six break points. "We still love you, Roger," said one wag in the crowd - the low quality of waggishness is one thing which never changes at Wimbledon. Federer, seven times the champion here, can't often have been patronised. Federer's small band of fans refused to bow to what seemed inevitable. "C'mon Roger," screamed one large British woman after every game. The Federer recusants - Brits who refused to toe the patriotic line - were an interesting bunch. "He plays beautiful tennis," said a woman in red Federer ear-rings standing in the forlorn queue for return tickets before the match. "And I don't like all the swearing on the court from Murray - it's just not necessary." On this occasion, it certainly wasn't necessary, and the undoubted beauty of Federer's groundstrokes counted for nothing.

Everything Murray did was determined, decisive; he even snatched his towel decisively from a ballboy at the end of each game. This was his moment. Denied a grand slam - he has lost four grand slam finals, three of them to Federer - this was his chance at sporting immortality. Usually, in so one-sided a final, support would at some point switch to the underdog, but not this time. The scream that greeted the break of the Federer serve in the fifth game of the third set was visceral. Now, everyone believed Murray would win, and centre court was a sea of red, white and blue, save for one confused young man in the front row who was waving a Brazilian flag. Even the large lady had stopped shouting "C'mon, Roger". Murray was talking to himself perpetually, urging himself on; he had his foot on Federer's throat and didn't intend to release it. All he had to do now was hold his serve, which he did it with a string of aces that left Federer flailing. "Andy had a clear plan," said Federer later, "and never looked like he was doubting himself." He need never doubt himself again.

Andy Murray wins men's singles Olympics tennis gold - BBC Sport BBC Sport Andy Murray wins men's singles Olympics tennis gold By David Ornstein Media playback is not supported on this device Archive: Murray beats Federer to win London 2012 gold Andy Murray captured the biggest title of his career with an emphatic victory over Roger Federer in the Olympic men's singles final at Wimbledon. It's number one for me - the biggest win of my life Andy Murray Murray beat the Swiss world number one in straight sets, 6-2 6-1 6-4, on a raucous Centre Court. The 25-year-old is the first British man to win the Olympic singles gold medal since Josiah Ritchie in 1908. He had never beaten Federer in a best-of-five-sets match and lost to him in this year's Wimbledon final. Murray's triumph came four weeks to the day since that 6-4 5-7 3-6 4-6 loss to Federer at the All England Club. "It's number one for me - the biggest win of my life," said Murray.

"I have had a lot of tough losses in my career and this is the best way to come back from the Wimbledon final." Media playback is not supported on this device Murray on 'biggest win' of career Murray later faced a second Olympic final in a day, but he and mixed doubles partner Laura Robson could not overcome Belarusian top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi. They lost 2-6 6-3 10-8 in a champions' tie-break decider and had to settle for silver. Team GB remain third in the London 2012 medal table, with Murray's singles triumph in just an hour and 56 minutes the 16th gold medal of a glorious Games for the host nation. Afterwards he climbed into the stands to celebrate with his girlfriend, family and support team as Federer again missed out on the one accolade missing from his CV. Murray then mounted the podium with Federer and bronze medallist Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who beat Serbia's Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-4 in an hour and 48 minutes earlier in the day.

There were no obvious tears, but it was clear how much this meant to Murray as he sang along to parts of the national anthem and then draped himself in a union jack. Having suffered a shock first-round defeat by 77th-ranked Yen-Hsun Lu in Beijing four years ago, he will be delighted to have contributed this time round. Analysis "What a response from 28 days ago. To win 6-2 6-1 6-4 on Centre Court... he's not only beaten Federer, he's taken him apart. To go from 2-2 in the first set to 6-2 5-0 - that doesn't happen to Roger Federer. There were tears of disappointment after the Wimbledon final but he should enjoy every minute of this." Murray becomes the first Briton to claim an Olympic men's singles medal since Charles Dixon took silver at the 1920 event in Antwerp. Victorious over Djokovic in the semi-finals, Murray troubled an error-strewn Federer from the outset. After saving two break points in the opening game of the match, he broke serve in game six before holding for 5-2 with two booming aces.

Murray buried a backhand passing shot to wrap up the 37-minute first set but, given he also took the opener in the Wimbledon final, there remained a sense of caution around the stadium. That caution turned into belief when a forehand pass clipped a net cord to elude Federer in game two of the second set and he then saved six break points to hold for 3-0. Federer looked agitated and his fans dejected and a rare double fault let Murray strike again before the Scot swiftly served out to extend his advantage. The Scot's performance continued to improve as his opponent's faded and Federer's delivery was breached decisively in game five of the third set as Murray powered towards the finishing line, dropping just one point on serve as he closed out with an ace. "I didn't expect that at the start of the week," added Murray after collecting his gold medal. "I thought I'd go deep into the tournament but I felt so fresh today.

It's amazing." Andy Murray wins London 2012 Olympics gold with straight-sets defeat of Roger Federer at Wimbledon - Telegraph Tennis Andy Murray wins London 2012 Olympics gold with straight-sets defeat of Roger Federer at Wimbledon When the Wimbledon DJ chose Massive Attack’s Unfinished Symphony as the walk-on music for the men’s singles finalists, was he making a point? If so, it was a clever one. Image 1 of 5 Pure gold: Andy Murray shows of the spoils of his stunning victory over Roger Federer on Centre Court Photo: REUTERS Champion: Andy Murray shows the crowd his Olympic gold medal Photo: EPA Image 1 of 5 Magic moment: Andy Murray defeats Roger Federer in straight sets to take the Olympic title Photo: AP Image 1 of 5 Romantic celebration: Andy Murray climbed into the stands to celebrate with his girlfriend Kim Sears Photo: GETTY IMAGES Follow Andy Murray ’s career will always be incomplete until he achieves his long-held goal of lifting a grand slam trophy. But by winning the Olympic tennis final on Sunday, and destroying his old nemesis Roger Federer in the process, he has taken a big step towards fulfilment.

It might seem ironic that a British man has finally won a singles tournament at Wimbledon for the first time since 1936 — and yet it is not Wimbledon 'proper’. Still, this victory could yet be a significant building block in Murray’s career. To put the scale of the achievement into perspective, he faced the undisputed king of Centre Court, a man who had won seven of his previous eight finals on this most prestigious of stages. The odd one out dates back to 2008, when Rafael Nadal produced the match of his life to win in five agonising sets. Related Articles Murray climbs into crowd to enjoy 'biggest win' 05 Aug 2012 In pure tennis terms, Sunday’s match was no classic. Had it not been for the size of the prize at stake, it might even have seemed workaday. Murray made Federer look slow and hesitant in a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory that occupied only 1 hr 56 min. Asked afterwards whether he remembered ever losing nine games in a row — as he did from the middle of the first set — Federer joked: “No, I don’t.

And I don’t want to remember.” For the home fans, though, this was an unforgettable afternoon — a day when Centre Court roared with a level of patriotism that can never have been matched at Wimbledon. And Murray matched their support with a totally clinical performance. He didn’t play too many spectacular shots, but then he didn’t have too. He could tell that Federer was out of sorts and out of rhythm, and he concentrated on playing a tight, high-percentage game that gave his opponent little breathing space. Since Friday afternoon, Murray has beaten Novak Djokovic and now Federer, the two top-ranked players in the world. And he has done it without dropping a set or even dropping his serve. No fewer than 13 break points came and went against his name, yet he never faltered once. That is the sort of backs-to-the-wall brilliance on which major titles are built. Could there be parallels here with Djokovic, who reached the peak of his powers after winning the Davis Cup for Serbia in 2010? Tennis can be a painfully individual sport: you have no caddie to help you through the awkward moments, no second in your corner to jabber instructions in your ear.

But the collective cause of Team GB supplied a different mindset, and one that Murray has clearly relished. It has knocked him out of his tendency towards introspection, and the result has been the best individual medal haul recorded by any British athlete at these Olympics to date: a gold and a silver. You have to go back to Charles Dixon in the Stockholm Games of 1912, to find an equivalent effort from a home player. “I watched the athletics last night, and it was unbelievable,” Murray said. It was amazing to see Mo Farah run his final 400 metres in 53 seconds when I can only do it in 57 seconds when I’m fresh. That gave me the motivation to try to win the gold medal, because I wanted to be part of it if I could.” This match was even for about 20 minutes, which saw Federer do his best to re-establish the aggressive patterns of play that overcame Murray in the Wimbledon final, exactly four weeks earlier. But so many of them weren’t functioning this time. Where was the forehand down the line, that we normally see him threading with the accuracy of a sniper’s bullet?

Where was the short, sharp slice that he so often uses to pull Murray out of position? It’s true that he wasn’t given much opportunity to launch attacks, because of the depth and weight of Murray’s groundstrokes. But this was a curiously flat performance from the world No 1, and one that showed how much his semi-final — that 41/2-hour epic against Juan Martin Del Potro — had drained his batteries. “Maybe there was so much emotion already out of me that it kind of hindered me from playing my absolute very best,” said Federer afterwards. “But then again, that’s just trying to come up with some excuses. I have myself to blame at times. But at the same time he put me time and time again in a tough position.” It certainly wasn’t the same Federer we saw a month ago. But goodness, wasn’t it about time that Murray came up against a player in indifferent form in a major final? In Grand Slams, he has lost three times to an inspired Federer, and once to Djokovic in a match that kicked off the Serb’s golden season.

Murray’s new coach Ivan Lendl (who has not attended this tournament, but has kept in touch on the telephone) has said that the important thing is to keep banging on the door, until it opens. On Sunday, in the Olympic final, it opened as smoothly as if the hinges had been oiled. Perhaps on another day, at Flushing Meadows or Melbourne Park, it will open in a Grand Slam too. A Month After Wimbledon Defeat, Murray Returns To Beat Federer And Win Gold At London Olympics A Month After Wimbledon Defeat, Murray Returns To Beat Federer And Win Gold At London Olympics {{article.article.images.featured.caption}} Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Full Bio The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. Loading ... This story appears in the {{article.article.magazine.pretty_date}} issue of {{article.article.magazine.pubName}}. Subscribe Britain's first Olympic gold medal in tennis since 1908 (Getty).

Only a month after losing to Roger Federer on Centre Court at Winbledon, Brit Andy Murray beat the Swiss Federer (6-2, 6-1, 6-4), winning gold at the London Olympics and giving the British more reason to embrace a full-blown Olympic fever. The win marks Great Britain's first Olympic gold medal in tennis since 1908. "The atmosphere was unbelievable," Murray said in an NBC interview immediately after the win. "I don't feel that nervous. It's strange. I felt much more comfortable on the court. It was amazing. The crowd helped me get in a few extra miles per hour on the last few serves. But no way did I expect a score like that in the final." In the third set of the men's tennis finals, each point Murray won was met with increasingly louder cheers and waving Union Jacks. With his final ace serve, Murray covered his eyes as the crowd gave a roaring standing ovation and chanted his name. Murray slipped into the crowd to hug his family and coach, surrounded by the kind of excitement rarely seen at the normally reserved crowd at Wimbledon. "This was one of the biggest wins of my life," Murray said later.

"I have had a lot of tough losses in my career and this is the best way to come back from the Wimbledon final. This week has been incredible for me, the support has been amazing at all of the Olympic the events. "I watched the athletics last night and the way Mo Farah won gave me a boost coming into today. I didn't expect that [being crowned Olympic champion] at the start of the week. I thought I'd go deep into the tournament but I felt so fresh today. It's amazing." Federer was gracious in defeat. "He was better, much better than I was today but I'm happy with silver," Federer said in a post-game interview. "I had a very emotional tournament. Maybe I was emotionally drained but, nevertheless, I didn't think I played too badly, but things didn't go my way. It's unfortunate, but still a great day for me. Andy looked like he was never doubting himself and he was able to come through this time around. He's had a wonderful career already and I'm happy for him." Tim Henman, Olympic silver medallist and BBC Sport tennis pundit, had this to say: "Murray won nine straight games.

That just doesn't happen to Federer on a grass court. That's why Murray deserves gold, it's an unbelievable achievement. It can act a huge stepping stone in terms of his career." The latest win puts the UK at 34 Olympic medals. China is in the lead with 58 followed, by the United States with 56. Follow me on Twitter @johnmclarkejr or e-mail me at johnmclarkejr@gmail.com. Find more coverage of the London Olympics on Forbes . Andy Murray beats Roger Federer to win gold - London 2012 Olympics | Daily Mail Online comments Andy Murray followed one of the greatest days in British Olympic history with one of the best performances British tennis has ever seen as he crushed Roger Federer to win London 2012 gold. Murray exacted the sweetest revenge possible for his tear-jerking Wimbledon final loss by inflicting Federer's heaviest ever defeat at the All England Club and winning his country's first men's singles title since 1908.

Flying the flag: The British No 1 parades his gold medal to the delight of the home support Net gains: Murray looks to he heavens after beating Federer 6-2, 61, 6-4 on Sunday afternoon The 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory margin was scarcely believable against the man who stopped him becoming the country's first men's Wimbledon singles champion for 76 years just 28 days ago, who was desperate to enhance his claim to be the greatest player of all time by clinching a career golden slam. Murray had little time to celebrate the win as he prepared to go for another gold in the mixed doubles. What a difference 28 days makes: Murray stormed to victory at Wimbledon after turning in a fine display Murray was in uncharted territory in a five-set contest against Federer. He had lost every one of their grand slam matches, despite their overall 8-8 head-to-head record. The Swiss had also won more than once from two sets down at Wimbledon but, after two comfortable holds at the start of the third, he was pummelled into submission again by Murray's crosscourt backhand.

You can't hurry a Murray (or so they say): The British No 1 put Federer to the sword on Centre Court with a dominant display Everything Murray touched was turning to gold, while Federer's game continued to disintegrate in a manner never before seen on Centre Court. Murray had come out firing four weeks ago, breaking Federer in the first game, but today it was the Scot who found himself under pressure as he gave away two break points. Contrasting fortunes: Murray was on another level compared to Federer as the British ace turned in one of the best displays of his career He saved them both, though, and that was to prove vital as he went on to win the first set. Federer was making a lot of unforced errors while Murray gradually raised his level and, after missing a chance to break in the fourth game, moved ahead in the sixth when the world No 1 could not handle a fizzing backhand. Centre Court was rocking, and the noise level increased again when Murray broke to take the set, nailing a backhand pass just inside the line.

Home support: The Wimbledon crowd roared Murray on to glory as they helped create a Davis Cup atmosphere on Centre Court Murray had talked in the build-up about the rarity of Federer treading new ground and how that levelled the playing field, and he was certainly not showing the same form he did at Wimbledon. There was a lot on the line for the Swiss player, who is unlikely to have another chance to win a singles gold medal, the only major honour missing from his trophy cabinet. Tension had crackled around Centre Court in the Wimbledon final but today it seemed to have homed in on Federer's racquet. Even the net was on Murray's side as two bits of luck helped him break for the third time in a row to lead 2-0 in the second set. In the stands: Andy Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears assumes her position on Centre Court to cheer on her partner The key game of the match followed as Federer threw everything at Murray in an effort to get back on terms, forcing six break points, but every time he was repelled.

The crowd sensed it was vital he held on, and remarkably he won an eighth straight game when Federer double-faulted, and then a ninth before the Wimbledon champion finally stopped the rot. There was an air of disbelief on Centre Court, could this really be happening? Federer had a chance to pull one break back but again Murray held firm to move into a two-set lead. Team Murray: Andy made his way into the stands to celebrate his straight-sets victory over Federer BRONZE MEDAL MATCH Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro won the bronze medal in the men's singles after upsetting second seed Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-4 on Wimbledon's Court One. Del Potro lost a marathon semi-final encounter to Roger Federer on Friday and left the court in tears, but he roused himself physically and mentally to earn his place on the podium. Djokovic, beaten by Andy Murray in the last four, was the bronze medallist in Beijing four years ago but he ceded first blood when his serve was broken in the 11th game.

He had two chances to break back and force a tie-break but Del Potro held on, and the Argentinian broke again to lead 2-1 in the second set. Djokovic tried to respond but there was no way back and for the Serb there was only the agony of finishing fourth. Federer had played for almost four and a half hours on Friday in beating Juan Martin Del Potro in a titanic semi-final and his movement was certainly not up to his usual standard. But that was to take nothing away from Murray, who was pinning the great man back with the ferocity of his groundstrokes, particularly his cross-court backhand. A two-set lead was still far from victory of course, with Federer having come back from two sets to love down to win on many occasions, including against Julien Benneteau at Wimbledon. Often Murray has a dip at such moments but not today, he simply maintained the same excellent level and broke again with another superb backhand. Federer prevented the Scot moving 5-2 ahead and then forced him to serve it out.

The nerves must have been coursing through Murray's body but he did not show it, two big serves bringing up match point before the final coup de grace. The world No 4 celebrated the finest win of his life by climbing up to the players' box to celebrate with friends and family, and it could yet be double gold with the mixed doubles final still to come. Murray hailed the biggest win of his career. 'It's No 1 for me,' he told BBC1. 'The biggest win of my life. This week's been incredible so far. 'I've had a lot of fun, the support's been amazing. One more match to go, but it's been unbelievable.' Murray said he was inspired both by the performances of his Great Britain team-mates and the crowd, who were unusually boisterous for SW19. 'They're unbelievable,' he said. 'It's not just here but all of the events I've watched. I watched the athletics last night it was amazing. 'The way Mo Farah won... I do 400m repetitions in my training and when I'm completely fresh I can run it in 57 seconds and his last lap after 9,600m was 53 seconds.

It's just unbelievable fitness. Centre of attention: Murray provided the Wimbledon crowd with some exhibition celebrating 'It gave me a boost coming into today. The momentum the team's had the last couple of days has been so good.' Murray admitted the achievement had surprised even him. 'I didn't expect that at the start of the week,' he said. 'I had a chance of going deep into the tournament [but] I was a little bit tired after Wimbledon, and playing the mixed as well. 'But I felt so fresh. On the court today I didn't really feel nervous at all apart from at the beginning of the match.' Murray felt his victory was the perfect way to recover from his Wimbledon disappointment. 'It's worth it,' he said. 'I've had a lot of tough losses in my career. This is the best way to come back. I'll never forget it.' ANDY MURRAY'S MILESTONES: SPORTSMAIL LOOKS BACK AT ANDY'S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Immense: Murray hammered Roger Federer in one of his many career highlights to take Olympic gold US Open junior title (September 2004): Murray's talent for tennis was evident from an early age.

He won the prestigious Orange Bowl in Florida aged 12 and went to train in Spain when he was 15 to develop his game. Victory over Sergiy Stakhovsky in the final of the US Open juniors cemented his position as Britain's brightest hope. Making a mark on grass (June 2005): Wild card Murray reached the third round at Queen's and was in a winning position against former grand slam winner Thomas Johansson before succumbing to cramp. It was a similar story on his senior Wimbledon debut as he beat world number 16 Radek Stepanek in round two and went two sets up against David Nalbandian only to lose in five. First ATP Tour final (September 2005): Murray enjoyed a superb run to the final of the Thailand Open in Bangkok but found world number one Roger Federer one obstacle too far. The run took him into the top 100 for the first time. Maiden ATP Tour title (February 2006): Andy Roddick was the Scot's first top-10 victim as he beat the world number three in the semi-finals of the SAP Open in San Jose.

He then defeated Lleyton Hewitt in three sets to lift the trophy, climbing into the top 50. Team Murray (December 2007): The Lawn Tennis Association hired coach Brad Gilbert to work with Murray but the young Scot knew it was not for him. After only 18 months together, Murray ended the arrangement and assembled his own team of coach Miles Maclagan plus fitness trainers, a physio and various friends. Wimbledon thriller (June 2008): Murray gave the Centre Court crowd a rollercoaster ride as he came back from two sets down to beat Richard Gasquet and reach the quarter-finals for the first time. He was well beaten by Rafael Nadal, though. Masters magic (August 2008): The Scot won his first Masters title in Cincinnati, beating Novak Djokovic in the final. US Open breakthrough (September 2008): Murray and the US Open always seemed made for each other. After coming back from two sets down against Jurgen Melzer in round three, 21-year-old Murray beat Nadal for the first time, in a marathon match over two days. Federer was a class act in the final, however.

Back-to-back titles (October 2008): Murray's US Open heroics lifted him to number four in the world for the first time and he cemented that position by winning the Madrid Masters, beating Federer in the semi-final, and successfully defending his St Petersburg Open title. He also qualified for the Masters Cup for the first time. Biggest title (April 2009): Murray was victorious at the Miami Masters - known as the unofficial fifth major - beating Djokovic in the final. Ranking milestone (May 2009): Murray became the first British player ever to be officially ranked number three in the world on May 11. He then climbed to number two in August, albeit briefly. King of Queen's (June 2009): Murray reached the quarter-finals of the French Open for the first time and then justified his number one seeding by becoming the first British winner at Queen's for 71 years, his first title on grass. Getting closer at SW19 (July 2009): Murray boosted hopes of a first home men's singles winner with a thrilling run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon.

He was favourite to beat Andy Roddick but the American produced an inspired display to win in four sets. Missing out in Melbourne (January 2010): After knocking out Nadal and Marin Cilic to reach the final of the Australian Open, Murray's grand slam hopes were again dashed by Federer. The Swiss triumphed 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13/11) at Melbourne Park. Another Melbourne final (January 2011): Back in the Australian Open final, Murray was optimistic he could go one better than in 2010. But he suffered a 6-4 6-2 6-3 defeat against Djokovic and lost three straight first-round matches afterwards. Nadal has Murray's measure (June-September 2011): Murray was having his most consistent season, marked by reaching the semi-finals at every grand slam. At the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open it was the same story, though - Murray was good but not good enough to beat Nadal.

So near and yet so far (January 2012): Under new coach Ivan Lendl, Murray produced one of his best grand slam performances in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, pushing world number one Djokovic all the way before finally losing out in five sets after almost five hours. First Wimbledon final (July 2012): Murray ended the 74-year wait for a British Wimbledon finalist by holding his nerve under intense pressure to defeat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last four. He then won his first set in a grand slam final but Federer was not to be denied, the Swiss winning 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4. Olympic Gold (August 2012): A straight-sets defeat of Djokovic in the semi-finals gave Murray the chance to claim Olympic tennis gold for Britain for the first time since 1908. And he duly delivered as, exactly four weeks since the Wimbledon final, he gained revenge on Federer with what appeared a breakthrough performance, Murray winning 6-2 6-1 6-4 to top the podium.

Andy Murray Wins Gold Medal In Olympic Singles Tennis, Beats Roger Federer In Final | The Huffington Post Andy Murray Wins Gold Medal In Olympic Singles Tennis, Beats Roger Federer In Final 08/05/2012 11:19 am ET | Updated Aug 05, 2012 1.6k AP/Huffington Post Andy Murray has won the gold medal in the Olympic men's singles competition, dominating Roger Federer in straight sets in the final 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 at Wimbledon. While winning his first Olympic gold medal, Murray also denied Federer his first Olympic singles gold. Murray started heating up after Federer won two games in the first set. He reeled off nine consecutive games, winning the first set and taking a commanding lead in the second. Federer's performance was a far cry from the one he delivered in the Wimbledon final less than a month ago. The grass court master committed 31 total unforced errors and went 0 for 9 in break points chances.

In the pair's previous meeting on grass, Federer won his 17th grand slam at Wimbledon back in early July, defeating Murray in the final 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. (Story continues below photos) Murray Routs Federer For Olympic Singles Gold Murray Routs Federer For Olympic Singles Gold 1 19 Murray Defeats Federer For Singles Gold Medal Switzerland's Roger Federer returns a shot to Britain's Andy Murray during the men's singles gold medal match at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon, in London, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012. Share this slide: AP The Olympic singles gold medal match looked quite different. Murray overpowered Federer in each set, the longest taking just 46 minutes. Murray isn't done for the day, though. He and teammate Laura Robson play in the mixed doubles gold medal match later in the day against Belarus' Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi. "Hopefully they stick around for the next match," Murray said of the crowd during his quick post-match interview on the court.

After match point, Murray dropped to his knee and then climbed into the stands to hug his family. The 25-year-old has yet to win a major, losing in the finals of four grand slams. But now he has something Federer doesn't: an Olympic singles gold medal. More from AP: WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Andy Murray had Centre Court rocking Sunday, winning gold for the home team and beating Roger Federer 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in the tennis final at Wimbledon. The result was a royal rout. Murray swept nine consecutive games, breaking Federer's serve four times in a row. The victory marked a breakthrough for the Scotsman, who has lost all four of his Grand Slam finals, three against Federer. For Federer, the drubbing marked another Olympic disappointment. Playing in the games for the fourth time, he sought a victory to complete a career Golden Slam but still earned his first singles medal. From the start, there was no doubting fans' loyalty as the crowd waved Union Jacks throughout.

More: Andy Murray Beats Federer for Olympic Tennis Gold - The New York Times The New York Times Olympics |At Site of Heartbreak, Murray Overwhelms Federer for Gold Search Continue reading the main story Photo Andy Murray jumped for joy after defeating Roger Federer in straight sets to win the gold in men's singles on Sunday. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times WIMBLEDON, England — Andy Murray has yet to win Wimbledon, but he has now won a big one at Wimbledon. Riding the wave of British Olympic success this weekend and his own formidable counterpunching talents, Murray was unstoppable against Roger Federer in the gold medal match in men’s singles on Sunday. He shrugged off two break points in the opening game and gathered strength and precision from there to win, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. The victory came on the same patch of grass (and dirt) where Federer has won a record seven men’s Wimbledon singles titles, and at the same court where Federer reduced Murray to tears last month when he rallied to defeat him in four sets in the Wimbledon final.

Murray has struggled to recover from disappointments like that in the past, but he bounced back quickly this time, sweeping through six matches in the Olympic tournament with the loss of only one set and reeling off nine straight games against Federer in one particularly lopsided stretch Sunday and finishing with two consecutive aces. Continue reading the main story Murray, a 25-year-old with a deadpan sense of humor and a gravelly voice, has not won a Grand Slam singles title, losing all four of his major finals. But winning the Olympic gold medal in his own country surely qualifies as a major victory. Advertisement Continue reading the main story He certainly greeted it with major emotion: leaping high, covering his eyes with his hands and eventually climbing into the stands to embrace his support team, including his mother, Judy, a British Fed Cup captain who taught him the basics of the game in Dunblane, Scotland. “I’ve won an Olympic gold medal; I haven’t won a Grand Slam,” Murray said. “I know how this feels, and it feels great. I’ve lost some tough matches in some tough finals, and that’s hurt me a lot.

I think tennis in the Olympics is getting better each time it’s played because all the top players are playing now. For me, it’s the biggest win of my life.” Murray has long been relegated to fourth in the pecking order in this golden age of men’s tennis, behind Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Murray will still be ranked fourth on Monday, but he certainly knows how to beat all three of those ahead of him, including Federer. Murray leads their head-to-head series, 9-8, but until Sunday he had never defeated Federer in a best-of-five-set match. Murray’s performance early in last month’s Wimbledon final augured well. Returning and moving beautifully, he dominated the early baseline exchanges. But he lost command late in the second set as Federer lifted and then began to soar in earnest once the roof over Centre Court had been closed because of rain. There would be no extra gear for Federer on Sunday. Murray fought off all nine break points he faced and consistently forced the issue with his forehand. After some early showers, sunshine returned to southwest London in time for the Olympic final.

The roof, which had been closed for the women’s doubles final won by Venus and Serena Williams, was open for the men’s final, which certainly helped Murray’s state of mind. It may also have helped Murray, an intelligent and combustible player, that the Olympic tournament reshuffled the deck and the psychological obstacles. Despite the familiar setting, this was not a Grand Slam final, and in an Olympic context, the focus was less on the individual and more on the British flag and team. Photo Andy Murray, above, beat Roger Federer in a best-of-five-set match for the first time. Still, Federer, playing in his fourth Games, won his first singles medal. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times “When Wimbledon is going on, the country stops, but when the Olympics are going on, tennis is just part of it,” said Paul Annacone, Federer’s co-coach. “So it’s a different level of expectation, a different level of pressure in my opinion.” Advertisement Continue reading the main story Murray has been an Olympics spectator as well as an Olympian here, channel surfing between matches and at home in nearby Surrey.

He marveled at the British runner Mo Farah’s victory in the 10,000 meters, one of six British gold medals Saturday. “The way Mo Farah won, I mean, I do 400-meter repetitions in my training, and when I’m completely fresh, I can run it in 57 seconds, and his last lap after 9,600 meters was 53 seconds,” Murray said. “It’s just unbelievable fitness, and it gave me a boost.” Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy Murray said he took particular inspiration from the gold medal won in double sculls by Katherine Grainger, a Scottish rower who had settled for silver in three previous Olympic appearances. “To keep coming back is something that not many can do,” Murray told British reporters. “I think she will tell you that she’s a lot happier right now than someone who won gold at their first attempt.

Obviously, you want it to happen as soon as possible, but in sport, when it’s taken a long time to get that first breakthrough, it’s more special.” Sunday, then, must have been special indeed for Murray and bittersweet for Federer, who finally won an Olympic singles medal in his fourth Olympics but had to settle for silver. “I think this is as good as I could do during these championships; Andy was much better than I was today in many aspects of the game,” Federer said. “For me, it’s been a great month. I won Wimbledon, became world No. 1 again, and I got silver. Don’t feel too bad for me.” Murray came close to winning a second gold medal later Sunday but was defeated, with Laura Robson, in the mixed doubles final, 2-6, 6-3, and then 10-8 in the deciding super-tiebreak by Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarus. Lisa Raymond and Mike Bryan of the United States took the bronze.

Juan Martín del Potro upset Djokovic to take the bronze in men’s singles after his emotional loss to Federer on Friday in a semifinal that stretched to 19-17 in the final set. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Federer shed tears of joy and relief after that match, and in retrospect, that was his Olympic peak emotionally and physically. On Sunday, Federer’s best chance came in the third game of the second set, when he had six break points on Murray’s serve and failed to convert any of them. “Ultimately, Andy just did a great job of putting a chokehold on the match early,” Annacone said. The surprise was that, despite all the disappointments past, Murray did not stop squeezing, and it will be intriguing to see what that means in big matches to come, at the United States Open and beyond. “I spoke to Ivan Lendl after the Wimbledon final, and he said to me, ‘You’ll never play under more pressure than you did in the Wimbledon final,’ ” Murray said, referring to his new coach this season. “I’m able to deal with the situations better now, and I did.

I felt much more comfortable on the court.” 2012 LONDON A version of this article appears in print on August 6, 2012, on Page D1 of the New York edition with the headline: At Site of Heartbreak, Murray Overwhelms Federer for Gold. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe Andy Murray Wins Olympic Gold Medal v Roger Federer | London 2012 Olympics - YouTube Andy Murray Wins Olympic Gold Medal v Roger Federer | London 2012 Olympics Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Aug 5, 2012 Click here for all Olympic highlights and let the Games never end: Team GB's Andy Murray defeats Switzerland's Roger Federer in straight sets to win the gold medal in the London 2012 Olympic Games tennis event (5 August). Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro won the bronze medal match in the event to complete the medal winners.

Tennis has a long Olympic history but withdrew from the programme after 1924. It did not return as a medal sport until 1988. Professionals are now welcome to compete, and the Olympic competition includes men's and women's singles and men's and women's doubles.

Find more about Tennis at Subscribe to the official Olympic channel here: Find more about the Olympic Games at Follow your favourite athletes on the Olympic Athletes Hub: Like us on Facebook at Follow us on Twitter at Andy Murray beats Roger Federer to win Olympic gold for Great Britain | Sport | The Guardian Andy Murray beats Roger Federer to win Olympic gold for Great Britain • British No1 records emphatic 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory • Murray cries tears of exultation after easy win Sunday 5 August 2012 12.18 EDT First published on Sunday 5 August 2012 12.18 EDT Close This article is 4 years old Andy Murray was desperate for gold, and, crushing Roger Federer in straight sets on the same court where he lost to him in four in the Wimbledon final only a month ago, he took the prize in the most emphatic fashion. He is yet to win a slam title, but he is an Olympic champion, his single greatest achievement in the game so far. A major cannot be far away.

After the early jousting, it was almost embarrassingly one-sided as Federer, recently restored to No1 in the world, went fully an hour without winning a game. That is a remarkable statistic. “Definitely easier winning in the final than losing,” Murray said. “This is the way to come back from the Wimbledon final. I’ll never forget it. It’s the biggest win of my life. This week has been incredible so far – I’ve had a lot of fun, the support’s been amazing. All of the events I’ve watched, the support has been amazing. I didn’t expect that at the start of the week, but I felt so fresh. I didn’t feel nervous, apart from the start. Tough conditions, very windy. I played a good match.” Even Jeremy Clarkson and Virginia Wade must have been moved – if not to tears, then certainly a quiet, Little Englander hand-clap to go with the raucous reception he received from his new fan club on Centre Court. They would have raised the roof had it been left on after the morning rain.

As it was, their long, lusty cheers floated into the bright blue skies in celebration of Great Britain’s 16th gold medal at these lovely London Olympics, and one of the most convincing. Murray won 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in just under two hours and, once he started to pull away from his strangely anxious opponent, the shots flowed. It would be asking a lot for him to play like this all the time but there have been significant signs since he took Ivan Lendl on board in January that his game is getting towards a pleasing blend of safe and dangerous. From the middle of the first set to the end, nearly everything clicked for him: cross-court passing shots to clipped net cords that fell kindly for him, and his serve, which put three aces past Federer at the very end. He climbed into the box to embrace his girlfriend, Kim Sears, and the rest of his team, as well as his dad, Willie, and, longest of all, his mum, Judy, perhaps the biggest influence on his interesting life.

Laura Robson, his partner in the following mixed doubles, got a little hug, as did a small, tearful boy who emerged from the crowd to acclaim his hero. Federer, meanwhile, had disappeared down the tunnel. In the third round of the championships, Federer recovered from two sets down to beat Julien Benneteau. With the best will in the world, the Frenchman is no Murray. And this was not the same Federer. “I don’t think I played too badly,” the Swiss player said, “but he played well, good shot selections. I didn’t convert any break points. I made wrong decisions from time to time. Andy looked like he never doubted himself. I’m very happy for him.” Did Murray want it more than Federer? Maybe, although it is impossible to differentiate between Federer’s levels of intensity because he rarely changes gear. Still, there could be no mistaking the Scot’s determination to put behind him the memories of their last match. If the crowd lifted him, they deserve a medal too, because they carried none of the freight of the regulars who come here annually to cheer in hope rather than expectation.

These ingénus had the advantage of innocence and their joy transmitted itself to Murray, who is playing with a little more freedom, certainly less anxiety. He still bases his game on his solid defensive play and was rarely sucked into machismo exchanges with Federer, who, increasingly, raids the net in search of quick winners and exposes himself to the lob and passing shot. Three days shy of his 31st birthday, the Swiss trusts his brain more than his legs. In response, Murray played some intelligent tennis, none more so than when leading 2-0 in the second set and struggling to hold serve as Federer launched his last proper fightback, not dissimilar to one at a similar stage of their Wimbledon final. The game lasted a quarter of an hour and Federer had six break points but could take none of them as Murray powered down his first serve and steered rather than barged to 3-0. After that, his clean hitting carried him clear to a relatively unfussed victory. He broke Federer in the fifth game of the third set and, although he failed to convert three break points at the next available opportunity, was dominant when the end came.

John McEnroe said he had suspected Murray might do something special when he saw him responding positively to fans one night during the week in nearby Wimbledon village. As for Federer, McEnroe observed: “It’s the first time in a long time he looked his age. Djokovic won the Australian. Nadal won the French. Roger won Wimbledon. Andy won the Olympic gold. Could he win the ATP World Tour Finals in Greenwich and be ranked No1 by the end of the year? He could.” Could these be the Golden Years for Andy Murray ? Possibly. No longer, though, will he run for the shadows. His tennis has changed and so has his demeanour. The release of emotion from Murray was as strong as it had been in defeat four weeks ago to the day, except these tears were ones of exultation. 2012 Summer Olympics -- Andy Murray routs Roger Federer in straight sets, wins gold medal WIMBLEDON, England -- Andy Murray stood with the Union Jack draped over his shoulders, an Olympic gold medal around his neck, flanked by the man he had just beaten, Roger Federer , and basking in the roar of the Centre Court crowd.

No wonder the often dour Scotsman was grinning. Murray won one for the home team Sunday, beating Federer 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in the tennis final at Wimbledon. The victory marked a career breakthrough for Murray. He has lost all four of his Grand Slam finals, three against Federer, including Wimbledon a month ago. "It has been the best week of my tennis career by a mile," Murray said. "I've had a lot of tough losses. This is the best way to come back from the Wimbledon final. I'll never forget it." For Federer, the drubbing marked another Olympic disappointment. Playing in the Games for the fourth time, he sought a victory to complete a career Golden Slam but settled for silver -- his first singles medal. "Don't feel too bad for me," Federer said. "I felt like I won my silver, I didn't lose it. So I feel really happy." Murray swept nine consecutive games to take control, breaking Federer's serve four times in a row, his inspired play a reflection of raucous crowd support. He erased all nine break points he faced. "He never looked back," Federer said.

"His credit for getting in the lead and using the crowd to come through. He did an unbelievable job." The match capped the most memorable Olympics for tennis since it returned to the Games in 1988 after a 64-year absence. The event transformed staid Wimbledon into a more festive place. Murray became the first British man to win the gold in singles since Josiah Ritchie in 1908. Those games took place at Wimbledon, too. In the day's first match on Centre Court, women's singles champion Serena Williams teamed with sister Venus to win their third career doubles gold medal. They defeated Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4 under the retractable roof. Murray settled for a silver in mixed doubles with teammate Laura Robson . They lost to Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarus 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (8). Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina won the bronze in men's singles, beating Novak Djokovic of Serbia 7-5, 6-4. Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova of Russia won the bronze in women's doubles.

The roof opened shortly before the men's final, and the beloved Federer -- winner of seven Wimbledon titles -- walked onto the sun-splashed grass to a standing ovation. Then Murray entered, and an ovation became a the roar. At the far end of the All England Club, thousands of fans with grounds passes enjoyed a carnival atmosphere on the picnic hill known as Murray Mount while watching the match on a huge video screen. Federer wore red and Murray blue in the most colorful tournament ever held at Wimbledon. Their tactics were also in sharp contrast. Murray returned aggressively to repeatedly put Federer on the defensive when serving. Federer tried to come forward more than in any match this summer, but Murray answered with a succession of crisp passing shots for winners. "Andy looked like he was never doubting himself," Federer said. "He had a clear plan." The fans loved it, waving British flags of all sizes. "An-dy! An-dy" they chanted. They applauded when Federer won a point, but they boomed when Murray won one. And the bounces seemed to go Murray's way. One of his service breaks came when he hit winners that clipped the net cord on successive points.

But then the net, after all, was British. Altogether Federer dropped serve five times, surprising anywhere but especially on grass. He also lost 15 of 33 points when he went to the net, often watching groundstrokes by Murray whiz past out of reach. "That's the best part of his game," Federer said. "If he doesn't do those passing shots, he's not going to win gold." The impassive Swiss showed little frustration as the match slipped away. Instead, it was Murray tossing his racket in the second set when he made a rare error. Otherwise, Murray had little to get upset about. When he netted an easy forehand on break point early in the match, he laughed at his mistake. "I felt so fresh," he said. "I didn't feel nervous really at all, apart from at the beginning of the match." He won with plenty of flair and a succession of spectacular shots. A lunging backhand pass in the corner had fans on their feet. And he erased a break point with an acrobatic leaping overhead, followed by an improbable reflex volley winner after Federer fired at him from point-blank range.

Murray fell behind 15-40 serving in the opening game but rallied to hold, and from 2-all he took charge, winning every game until 5-0 in the second set. Federer struggled to hold but had many chances to break, including in the third game of the second set, a marathon that lasted for 20 points. He held six break points but Murray erased them all and won the game on an errant Federer backhand, one of many. "If those points had gone a different way, it could have been a different match," Murray said. Federer, taxed by his 19-17 third-set semifinal win Friday, couldn't summon a comeback. Murray hurried to the finish line, winning 20 of 21 points on his serve in the final set. He reached match point with an ace, then hit another at 131 mph to seal the win. He briefly sank toward the turf, then rose to share a warm embrace with a smiling Federer. "I was very happy for him," Federer said. "It's a long time coming for him, and he did great." Murray climbed into the player box to share hugs with friends and family.

He then leaped back onto the court, and when he threw a final knockout punch, the crowd roared one more time.

Question: Who did Andy Murray beat in the final to win the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal?
Answer: Roger Federer