Andy Murray and James Blake—both seeking a first grass-court title—met in the final in London.
If there were ever a nation ready to see a male champion triumph on home soil, Great Britain would have to be at the top of the list.
By 2009, it had been more than 70 years since a Brit won the men’s title at Wimbledon or one of the top tournaments leading up to it, the Queen’s Club Championships in London. The new millennium started off with promise as Tim Henman reached the final at Queen’s in 2001 and 2002, but he was unable to break the streak there before his retirement in 2007.
Andy Murray, his successor as the United Kingdom’s next big hopeful, reached the final for the first time in 2009. The world No. 3, who reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the first time the year prior, advanced to his first career grass-court final without dropping a set.
In the championship match, he would face 2006 Queen’s Club finalist James Blake. The American, who overcame the massive serving of Ivan Ljibucic and Sam Querrey in his first two matches, made it to the final when his compatriot Andy Roddick had to retire from their semifinal contest with an injury.
Back in 2006, Blake beat the teenaged Murray in straight sets in the first round of the Hamburg Masters on clay. Much had changed since that encounter, and Murray—the top seed here—was going for his third title of 2009. Early on in the first set, the two players exchanged breaks before settling in. Murray broke in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead, then held to take the opener.
In the second set, the two remained on serve through the first six games. In the always-crucial seventh one, Murray secured the break, then held to go up 5-3. Blake managed to hold in the next game to force Murray to serve for the match. A missed backhand return from Blake on match point gave Murray the title, making him the first Brit to win the tournament since Bunny Austin in 1938.
12
Murray’s 12th career single broke a tie with Henman, his predecessor as Great Britain’s best hope to win Wimbledon.
24
This was the 24th singles final of Blake’s career. At the time, he and Roddick were the only active American men to compete in as many as 20 championship matches.
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The last time a player won the title without dropping a set throughout the tournament was 2000, when Lleyton Hewitt’s run to his first grass-court triumph culminated with a straight-sets victory over Pete Sampras.
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