ANDY MURRAY became the first Briton to win the Men's Singles at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936 after a stunning straight sets victory over world number one Novak Djokovic.
Murray won 6-4 7-5 6-4 in just over three hours on Centre Court to end the 77 years of hurt since Perry was last victorious at SW19 - and the Scot also lifted a considerable weight off his shoulders.
For, there can be no question about it - Murray was well aware of the historical significance of his triumph. Indeed, he has had little chance of avoiding it since his early potential marked him out to be the likely answer to end the curse.
At 5.24pm yesterday, that curse was finally lifted as Djokovic netted for one last time.
In time-honoured fashion, Murray sunk to his knees in front of the net - but, in contrast to many players who have fallen to the hallowed turf of the All England Club in the past, Murray stayed there for quite a while, still struggling to comprehend exactly what he had just achieved.
Straight sets against the world number one? This really was the stuff that dreams are made of.
But, while it was all rather surreal of course, it was also very real - although nowhere near as straightforward as the scoreline suggested...
In a sign of things to come, the opening rally lasted 20 strokes and the first game took fully five minutes to complete as Djokovic saved three break points to hold.
Not for long, though. In his next service, the Serb again came under pressure, saving yet another break point in a 22-shot rally before Murray eventually prevailed with a thumping forehand.
The Scot's advantage lasted but for one game - but then Murray broke to love in game seven to go 4-3 ahead.
Another short-lived lead looked likely as he then double-faulted to give Djokovic two more break-back points - but the man from Dunblane saved the first with an ace and the second with a rare foray to the net.
In game nine, Djokovic again struggled to a hold - at one stage being 0-30 - before Murray made it count on his serve, winning game 10 to love for the first set.
It was a fine start, for sure, but nothing was won yet as Murray was well aware having taken the first set last year in his four-set defeat to seven-time champion Roger Federer.
Clearly, the identity of the second set winner would tell us a lot more about the momentum of the match as a whole and remarkably, in fact, 38 of the last 41 winners of the Men's Singles at Wimbledon had won the second.
On that basis, things looked good for Djokovic as he stormed into a 4-1 lead.
But that was only actually a single break and Murray got it back on serve in game seven after an uncustomary double fault on break point by Djokovic.
Forced to save three break points in game eight, Murray made his next move with the score at 5-5. Out of challenges, a frustrated Djokovic complained to the umpire after a Murray shot was not called out.
Hawk-Eye replays showed it was in anyway - and Murray was able to convert the second of his two break point chances before he served out for the set to love again, even finishing with an ace.
Two-love in sets and the 15,000 capacity crowd on Centre Court let out a roar as the realisation dawned of just how close glory was.
But Murray had also been 2-0 up against Djokovic in New York last September - and, though he would ultimately win his first Grand Slam, the Serb pushed him all the way to five sets.
A repeat did not look likely as Murray made an early break in the third and followed it up with a service game to love.
Djokovic is nothing if not a true champion, however, and he restored parity in the set by winning game four - and then broke again in game six in a loose spell by Murray.
Straight away, though, the Scot reacted, and broke back in game seven to put the set back on serve with a backhand winner.
Never more vulnerable, Djokovic served in game nine, knowing another break would leave Murray serving for the match - but the Serb was unable to do anything as Murray won an extraordinary point after chasing down a lob.
And so to game 10 and Murray's moment of destiny. It began well enough - two long shots from Djokovic sandwiching a forehand winner from Murray made it 40-0. Three Championship points were on the board.
But, no one should ever thought it would be as easy as that to lift the curse at Wimbledon - and so it proved as Djokovic hauled it back to deuce and Murray's serve began to tighten up.
Yet another three break points had to be saved by Murray, the second one after a 23-stroke rally, before he would get his next chance after Djokovic could only net. It was a fourth Championship point.
This time - this time - it finally happened. Djokovic went long with his backhand and Centre Court at Wimbledon erupted into tears of joy and disbelief. Murray had done it. He is the Wimbledon champion.
Later, Murray dedicated his victory to his coach Ivan Lendl, and the strides, which Murray have made since their partnership began in January 2012, are as clear as day.
That's two Grand Slams and Olympic Gold since this time last year, which begs the question 'how many more?' - and 'how many more of those will be at Wimbledon?'
Those questions and many other Murray-related discussions filled the airwaves today as Britain basked in its long-awaited tennis glory.
Perhaps, though, it would be best just to let the lad enjoy this moment. God knows, he deserves it.
Route to glory Wimbledon 2013
| Round 1 | v Benjamin Becker (GER) | 6-4 6-3 6-2 |
| Round 2 | v Lu Yen-hsun (TPE) | 6-3 6-3 7-5 |
| Round 3 | v Tommy Robredo (ESP) | 6-2 6-4 7-5 |
| Round 4 | v Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) | 6-4 7-6(7-5) 6-1 |
| Quarter Final | v Fernando Verdasco (ESP) | 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5 |
| Semi Final | v Jerzy Janowicz (POL) | 6-7(2-7) 6-4 6-4 6-3 |
| Final | v Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 6-4 7-5 6-4 |
No longer a loser Murray's major finals
| 2008 | US Open | v Roger FEDERER (SUI) | 2-6 5-7 2-6 |
| 2010 | Australian Open | v Roger FEDERER (SUI) | 3-6 4-6 6-7(11-13) |
| 2011 | Australian Open | v Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) | 4-6 2-6 3-6 |
| 2012 | Wimbledon | v Roger FEDERER (SUI) | 6-4 5-7 3-6 4-6 |
| 2012 | London 2012 Olympics | v Roger FEDERER (SUI) | 6-2 6-1 6-4 |
| 2012 | US Open | v Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) | 7-6(12-10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 |
| 2012 | Australian Open | v Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) | 7-6(7-2) 6-7(3-7) 3-6 2-6 |
| 2012 | Wimbledon | v Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB) | 6-4 7-5 6-4 |
Joining the pantheon of champions The Open Era (since 1968)
7 Pete Sampras (USA) - 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
7 Roger Federer (SUI) - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
5 Bjorn Borg (SWE) - 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
3 Boris Becker (GER) - 1985, 1986, 1989
3 John McEnroe (USA) - 1981, 1983, 1984
2 *Rod Laver (AUS) - 1968, 1969
2 *John Newcombe (AUS) - 1970, 1971
2 Jimmy Connors (USA) - 1974, 1982
2 Stefan Edberg (SWE) - 1988, 1990
2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) - 2008, 2010
1 Stan Smith (USA) - 1972
1 Jan Kodeš (CZE) - 1973
1 Arthur Ashe (USA) - 1975
1 Pat Cash (AUS) - 1987
1 Michael Stich (GER) - 1991
1 Andre Agassi (USA) - 1992
1 Richard Krajicek (NED) - 1996
1 Goran Ivanišević (CRO) - 2000
1 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) - 2001
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) - 2011
1 Andy Murray (GBR) - 2013
*Note: Rod Laver (1961, 1962) and John Newcombe (1967) also won titles in the Amateur Era, pre-1967
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