It was 79 years ago today...#USOpenFinal

On the 10th September in New York a British number three seed won his first Grand Slam title in five sets.

His name was Fred Perry, three years later at the same venue he was also to be the last British man to do so, until a tornado on Saturday evening caused a delay in the second semi-final 79 years later.

By a quirk of nature the final 79 years later was to feature another number three seed from Britain who had never won a Grand Slam title. But found himself in a final on that same iconic date. Although this one had just the month before won the Olympic title at the venue where that other great champion's statue looks down. He sadly no longer wears the brand that bore than great champion's name like he did at the start of his career.

Andy Murray may have missed the Olympic parade in London today, but his gold and silver medals in London 2012 have spurred him on to do this, and even given him that little bit more confidence that he could do so. Finally at the fifth time of asking Andy Murray has managed to join the club of Grand Slam winners at the venue he once one the boy's singles title. Just like his coach Ivan Lendl it took him four times in the runner's up position before.

Picture via BBC website

During the match when Andy was up two sets to love I did joke that was this his bid to make the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year short list. I think he may well be trying to make an additional mark on this year, this summer, of outstanding sport to try and make it into that list of ten (if there is only ten on that list this year) a merely getting one of the 63 Golds may not be enough. Like another the other gold medalist who has also achieved something outstanding on a global stage bookending the other end of the Olympics/Paralympics, Bradley Wiggins, who was also competing today, Andy had to miss the parade.

This is a where were you moment, it may have been after 2am but judging by my twitter feed many people across the UK will be getting very little sleep tonight, but then it has been a while since the last time a British Man lifted one of the big four in Tennis. Many may have been sat next a radio, rather reminiscent of Fred Perry's days as the final wasn't covered live on terrestrial TV.

PS This year the top four men shared the titles. Novak Djokovoc won in Australia, Rafael Nadal in France, Roger Federer at Wimbledon and in New York Andy Murray added the US Open to his Olympic title. The first time since 2003 that four different men have shared the titles.

Our Wee Country ain't bad with a wee white ball

 For a Wee Country Norn Iron is renowned for punching above our weight when it comes to sport. We've been to three world cups. Two men from here have run three World Snooker titles and more than our fair share of Olympic gold medalists (especially in boxing).

However, as somebody said over the weekend for two men from Northern Ireland to win back to back US Open golf titles must surely have been up there at lottery odds. That is except one 22-year-old from Holywood when told about that quote said, " Well, I though I had a pretty good chance."

He had a point, he'd been in the lead before yesterday's conclusion in 6 of the 7 rounds of major championship golf this year. The previous two last year's Open and PGA he was tied for third. So yeah that would have been pretty good form. Of course there was one elephant in the room. The implosion that he went through after leading for 3½ days on the back nine of the final day at the Augusta National being the reason.

There was none of  that last night. Sure he dropped shots on twice as many holes as he had the rest of the weekend, that took his total to 4 holes and 5 dropped shot. He did eventually 3 putt on a green, but that was the 71st and that was when he was already home an dry, the closest anyone got to his score all day was when Y.E. Yang birdied the 10th to go nine under, but he'd birdied it himself, after just missing a hole in one by 8 inches to go to 17 under. it may not have been his best round of the week, a meer 69, to go with the 65, 66 and 68 from the previous days. But that made him only the third US Open Champion to break 70 on all four days.

That wasn't all he did, here are a few of the records that were set over the last four days. Lowest four-round score at the US Open, his -16 268 bettering Jack Nicklaus (1982), Lee Janzen (93), Tiger Woods (2000) nad Jim Furyk (2003). Record for most strokes under par. Quickest ever to reach -10 (after 26 holes), first player ever to reach -17, lowest 36-hole total of 131, equals biggest 36-hole lead of six shots set by Tiger Woods in 2000, lowest 54-hole total of 199, lowest 72-hole total of 268. I think you call that domination.

He's from just up the road at Holywood, he learnt his golf just around the corner at Bangor with the club pro. He is Rory McIlroy. What will be capable of next month at Royal St. Georges in The Open. He's now led after 7 of the 8 rounds of major's golf this year. He grew up playing the Northern Irish links including an audacious 61 for the course record at Royal Portrush (the home course of Graeme McDowell last year's winner) aged just 16.

Our wee man with the curly hair done grand, so he did.

Plucky Young Brit Goes Out Fighting

Miss Laura* finally got to the end of her match, started on Friday, yesterday. As I blogged earlier she had taken a lead in the first set before losing it on the tie break and then suffering the rain delay.

Yesterday she came out against Miss Eva Hrdinova to a slow start going 3-0 down. But then she showed the promise that has made her being talked about as the next big thing in British Tennis taking ten of the next twelve games, to take the second 6-4 and lead 4-1 in the final set. But the Czech ranked 257 places ahead of her pulled it back to take it the next four games to lead 5-4. But then Miss Laura took eight of the next nine point to lead 6-5 and a chance to serve for the match and a place in the main draw. But she was broken and lost the subsequent tiebreak 7-4.

However, it will not be long before we see Miss Laura getting into the main draws of the Grand Slams, she will remain in New York to take part in the Juniors event.

Fellow Brit Miss Elena** took the first set 6-4 in her final qualifier. But Australia's Miss Anastasia Rodionova took the next two 6-2, 6-4. So it is over to Mister Andrew alone in the final Grand Slam of 2009.

*Robson.
** Baltacha.

Rain Delay Hitting Young Brit

Mister Stephen is off up in Edinburgh to see about his fringe, heaven knows where he'll find it it's been missing for years now.

Anyhoo, as I wrote last night the young cubess of British Tennis Miss Laura* is playing in Blushing Meadow between the showers we'd be expecting at SW19, but didn't get this summer. She made a promising start leading 5-2 in the first set of the final qualifying round against world number 128 Miss Eva 'Lck of Vwls' Hrdinova. Unfortunately for British Tennis fans the Czech came back to force a tie break which she won 8-6, but the heavens have since opened. Here's hoping Miss Laura can get her mind ready for the restart whenever that happens.

Miss Elena** our other Brit hoping to join Mister Andy the second best man in the world in the main draw is still waiting to hit a ball in her match due to the rain.

*Robson.
** Baltacha.