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By Joe McDonald

Andy Murray poses with Judy Murray, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Sir Sean Connery (September 8, 2012) -- If Tomas Berdych won that fourth set, he may have had to deal with not only Andy Murray, but Sir Sean Connery in the fifth.
 
The Oscar-winning actor was in attendance along with Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, both of whom walked into Murray’s post-match presser after he won in four sets, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(7). 

And as we saw today, when you are Sean Connery, you can do pretty much anything you want.
 
“Excuse me for interrupting, but I just wanted to make a point,” the original James Bond said as he brought Ferguson and Judy Murray -- Andy’s mom -- to the podium. 

It didn’t matter that there was an impromptu photo op, the point was taken, Murray has reached the next level. 
And on Monday now he will try to prove it by going for his first US Open title. 
 
“You know, obviously at the beginning of this tournament as well I haven't actually played great tennis so far.  So some of the matches just found a way to get through them,” Murray said. “And, yeah, to be in the final and get the chance to play for a Grand Slam is great. You know, the year obviously is not over yet, but this is, you know, probably the last big match I will play this year. Looking forward to it.”
 
Today, Murray was not shaken as the winds stirred at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The hard breeze made it difficult for the players to judge the ball and it hurt Berdych on his serve.
 
It even knocked down a few sideline chairs and took Murray’s hat out of the match, on a play that made a winner into a break point. 
 
“I was actually just saying I said to Tomas, you know, the referee was going to give me the point,” Murray said.  “I went up to the umpire and up to Tomas and I said, 'Are you sure 100% sure it came off?' Obviously I didn't know. I knew my hat had come off and then I looked 'round, but I didn't know whether the ball has bounced twice or not.”
 
But the wind affected both players. Berdych’s serve was severely hit by the wind because he throws the ball so high in the air. During the second and third sets, Murray won them easily because the Czech’s service game went away.
 
It was like he brought a knife to a gun fight. 
 
And Berdych seemed pretty displeased with the wind. 
 
“I think that our sport deserved to have some rule or if the conditions are like that that, you don't play because of the rain,” he said. “We play in Grand Slam in such a big tournament like this one, and especially missing the roof, it's something which should be at least to think about.
 
“You know, as you said, I mean, we are here in States where they really love show. Actually, this is not about show. This is just about somehow to try to deal with the conditions and then trying to put ball over the net."

It was only until the fourth set when the winds died down a bit but Murray was able to hold on winning the tiebreak 9-7. 
 
In the end, it was Murray who made fewer mistakes in the wind with 20 unforced errors to the Czech’s 64. He had a Bond-like cool about him out there. Never shaken as the winds stirred.
 
He surely made Connery, Ferguson and a whole host of other Scots proud.   
 
(Photo Credit: Andy Kentla)

 

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