Excerpts of Andy Murray’s press conference after the final.
You said nothing would probably top the US Open. Are you changing your mind?
Yeah, I also said that, winning Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis. I mean, the last game almost increased that feeling. You know, if I had closed it out at 40-love, I worked so hard in that last game. It’s the hardest few points I’ve had to play in my life.
And, yeah, it was a different match to the US Open.
Yeah, winning Wimbledon, I still can't believe it. Can’t get my head around that.
Is your biggest achievement making Ivan (Lendl) smile?
He just said that he was proud of me, which obviously, coming from him, means a lot.
You know, he doesn’t smile in public too much, but when he’s away from the crowds and the cameras, he’s a very different character.
I just think for him, obviously, ideally he would have won it himself, but I think this was the next best thing for him. I’m saying it seriously. I think he believed in me when a lot of people didn’t. He stuck by me through some tough losses the last couple of years. He’s been very patient with me. I’m just happy I managed to do it for him.
You've had an incredible progression in your career. What has been the key?
I think I persevered. That’s really been it, the story of my career probably. I think every year I always improved a little bit. They weren’t major improvements, massive changes, but every year my ranking was going in the right direction.
I was always going a little bit further in the Slams. I kept learning and I just kept working as hard as I could.
When I lost those matches sometimes I dealt with them badly, but I think the last few losses that I’ve had in Slam finals I’ve dealt with them a lot better.
Now that you've had the release of the win, can you speak about what it’s like to be the standard bearer of British tennis at Wimbledon?
You know, for the last four or five years, it’s been very, very tough, very stressful, a lot of pressure. The few days before the tournament, really difficult, as well.
The last two days are not easy. Because it’s just kind of everywhere you go. It’s so hard to avoid everything because of how big this event is, but also because of the history and no Brit having won.
I think I felt a little bit better this year than I did last year. I think now it will become easier. I hope it will.
What would you tell Fred Perry if he were alive now?
Look, I don’t know. I mean, he’s someone that I've obviously never met, but is quite relevant in my career really. He’s someone that I’ve spoken to a lot of people about.
I’ve met various people from his family, and, obviously, used to wear his gear.
Yeah, it’s a weird one. It’s a name that I’ve heard so much over the course of my career. It’s a shame that I never got to meet him.
Do you feel vindicated? Did you always feel this was going to happen, this day?
No, I didn’t always feel it was going to happen. It’s incredibly difficult to win these events.
I don’t think that’s that well understood sometimes. It takes so much hard work, mental toughness, to win these sorts of tournaments.
