The second-seeded Murray was playing in his 11th major final, but the first against someone other than Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer. The applause that greeted his victory was as prolonged as his tearful celebration, his head buried in his towel as he shuddered uncontrollably.
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“I was anxious about the consequences of losing those finals”, the 29-year-old Scotsman said Monday at the All England Club, sitting near the 18-inch Challenge Cup, now and forever etched twice with “A. MURRAY” on the side.
Murray said: “I had a rough night last night, good celebrations with the teams, it was good fun”. Raonic had an entire country behind him during the Federer match and despite the loss to Murray; it has become clear that Raonic can win a major.
“I’ve had some great moments here and also some tough losses”, Murray said in his on-court remarks holding the trophy tightly in his arms.
After the tension of his first Wimbledon final victory against Novak Djokovic in 2013, this was a much more serene affair as Murray cruised to the title with an nearly flawless display. “It’s a hard challenge”.
Andy Murray has told fans he did not mean to embarrass David Cameron in his Wimbledon victory speech. “This one’s going to sting”, Raonic said after accepting the runner-up trophy. “I’m going to make sure I do everything I can to be back here for another chance”.
The near hysteria of 2013 turned to expectation this time as defending champion Djokovic, Murray’s bogeyman who beat him in this year’s Australian and French Open finals, lost early.
Three years ago, Murray became the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
He also had 29 unforced errors to Murray’s 12.
Raonic did blast one down at 147mph, the fastest delivery of the tournament, but the free points he usually enjoys were missing as Murray sent the ball hurtling back time and again.
Fittingly for such an occasion, the Centre Court Royal Box was packed with sporting and celebrity star power.
“His excuse was that he wasn’t crying and that it was allergies that were making his eyes run”, Murray said.
It took Raonic 36 minutes and five service games to record his first ace, and he wound up with only eight.
Murray knows his big four rivals will regroup and come back stronger, but the Scot is confident this can be the start rather than the end.
It was going the same way as his last Wimbledon final but there was one mini-crisis in set three, one which Murray eliminated with the defiance of a natural born victor.
Raonic held to stay alive at 4-5 and 5-6 but rock solid Murray was relentless, winning the first five points of the day’s second tiebreak and wrapping it up without any drama.
He did it, primarily, with speedy and intimidating serves, averaging 25½ aces.
Having home advantage and a good crowd to cheer up Murray had taken the lead right from the beginning of the match. But on a breezy afternoon, at a Centre Court filled with almost 15,000 partisan fans, Murray shut down that integral part of Raonic’s game. Raonic never saw another break point.
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Murray grew emotional after defeating Milos Raonic in the three-set final.
