Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic lay claim to be next tennis superpowers

THANKS for the memories Roger and Rafa, but it's the Novak and Andy show now.

THANKS for the memories Roger and Rafa, but it's the Novak and Andy show now.

Andy Murray's Wimbledon triumph early yesterday, when he beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 in the final, was Britain's first by a male since Fred Perry in 1936.

British newspapers were in raptures, with several calling for him to receive a knighthood for ending the country's 77-year wait for a men's champion.

Every single national daily devoted its front page to Murray's straight-sets victory over Serbia's Novak Djokovic, with almost all of them splashing huge pictures of the 26-year-old brandishing the trophy in the blazing sun.

The Times newspaper led the calls for Murray to be knighted.

"Arise Sir Andrew, knight of the holy grail," it said. "Impossibly, dreamily, unbelievably and yet somehow almost easily, somehow almost inevitably, Andy Murray won the Men's Singles final at Wimbledon yesterday."

The Daily Mail said that sources in Prime Minister David Cameron's Downing Street office said the government would pass his name to Britain's Honours Committee in the same way it had done with cyclist Bradley Wiggins (now Sir Bradley) after he won the Tour de France last year.

It noted that Queen Elizabeth II herself had sent her congratulations to Murray on his victory.

The Sun, Britain's biggest selling newspaper, typically punned on Murray's first name with its headline "And of Hope and Glory".

"Finally, after 77 years, 15 PMs, three monarchs ... Brit man wins Wimbo", the tabloid said. It also came with a pullout section saying that Murray had been "Born to Wim."

The final re-emphasised the new dominance at the grand slam level of the world's two top players, both aged 26 and born just five days apart.

Djokovic and Murray have now contested three of the last four grand slam finals.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer, the deposed champion of Wimbledon who was knocked out in the second round, finds himself at No 5 in the world, his lowest ranking for over a decade.

Until he won his seventh Wimbledon 12 months ago, the 31-year-old had not won a major since the 2010 Australian Open, a 10-tournament gap at the majors.

Rafael Nadal, like Federer a former world No 1, was shocked in the first round at Wimbledon for his earliest exit at a major in 10 years as a professional.

The 27-year-old Spaniard, who was off tour for seven months before his barnstorming return saw him capture a record eighth French Open, has not won a major away from Paris since the 2010 US Open.

In all, 33 of the last 34 grand slams have been won by Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal, but seven of the last 11 have been taken by the world No 1 Serb and the world No 2 British player.

This year alone, Djokovic has won his fourth Australian Open, lost a tight five-setter to Nadal in the French Open semi-finals before being runner-up to Murray at Wimbledon. Murray was runner-up to Djokovic in Melbourne and skipped Paris due to a back injury.

But Federer, the holder of a record 17 majors, was a beaten semi-finalist in Australia and a quarter-finalist at the French Open.

Mats Wilander, the Swedish star who won seven grand slam titles in the 1980s, believes Murray and Djokovic are now the undisputed superpowers of the sport.

"I think Andy Murray can win six, seven, eight, nine, 10 majors. The only man that can stop him is Novak Djokovic," said the Swede.

"These two are going to decide who gets ahead in the history books. I hope they both decide this is a rivalry that's just going to grow and become great on all the different surfaces, in all four majors."

Federer is adamant that he will be back next year at Wimbledon when he will be six weeks short of his 33rd birthday.

AFP