AN emotional Andy Murray clinched Great Britain's first Davis Cup triumph for 79 years then said the experience meant more to him than his 2013 Wimbledon victory.
The World No 2 joked that captain Leon Smith and every member of a victorious extended British team comprising his brother Jamie, Kyle Edmund, James Ward, Dan Evans and Dom Inglot deserved a knighthood after his 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 victory against Belgium's top player David Goffin gave Britain an unassailable 3-1 lead in their final at the Flanders Expo Centre in Ghent.
It topped a remarkable journey from the brink of the bottom tier of this competition under Smith's captaincy, with Murray personally responsible for 11 of the points on Britain's glory run, three of them in the company of his older brother Jamie.
He is the first player since Pete Sampras 20 years ago to secure all three live points which decided a final.
He marked the moment in bravura fashion with a trademark backhand lob on match point, before crumpling to the clay. Mobbed by his team-mates, he broke off to commiserate with the defeated hosts. "I've been pretty upset having lost matches before," he said.
"But I'd say that's probably the most emotional I've been after a win. It's incredible that we managed to win this competition. I didn't know that would ever be possible."
While a job lot of knighthoods seems a lot to ask, sportsmen like Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins have all received this royal honour and Sir Andy does have a ring to it. "Look, I think everyone deserves one [a knighthood]," said the 28-year-old, who already has an OBE.
"For all of the team it's obviously great to have a Davis Cup next to our name. We'll all remember this year for the rest of our lives, regardless of what happens in the rest of any of our careers. Nothing may ever top this now."
While at pains to stress that this was a team effort, Smith said that the achievements of the World No 2 were up there with any in the history of British sport. "It has to be one of the best achievements of all time," said Smith.
"I mean, it's incredible for all of us to watch how he's managed to win that many rubbers, that many wins, especially when you look back at the tie in France and also the Australia match, when he obviously had a lot of fatigue, and managed to find a way through."
While Murray has already committed to playing in the 2016 first round against Japan, Smith was remained tight lipped about his future last night.
Herald Sport revealed back in July that there are hopes of persuading him to go on secondment north of the border to head up the Scottish coaching operation. "I think it's really important to enjoy this moment right now," said Smith. "It is a very, very special moment for all of us. We'll just soak up the next couple of days as a team together, really enjoy it, then we'll see what happens after that."
Jamie Murray, relegated to a supporting role after his heroics of Saturday, said the moment was the biggest of his career to date, and that celebrations would include a slap-up meal in a London restaurant. "It's huge for me," said Jamie.
"By far the biggest achievement in my career. I've had an amazing season. This is an unbelievable way to cap it off. As for celebrations, I don't know. I think we're going to Nobu tomorrow night. That's all I know."
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