Who is Andy Murray?

One month after winning the London Olympic gold medal and two months after being reduced to tears after an emotional runner-up finish at Wimbledon, Andy Murray finally won his long-sought first Grand Slam title by defeating defending champion Novak Djokovic in the US Open final.

He became the first British man to win a Grand Slam crown since Fred Perry in 1936 and the first British player since Virginia Wade won the Wimbledon women's title in 1977.

Born on May 15, 1987 in Dunblane (Scotland), Murray took up tennis at a very early age. He trained under Leon Smith for six years (From 11 to 17). His parents separated when he was just nine. He and elder brother Jamie Murray, who is a doubles tennis player, lived with their father Will Murray.

Murray turned professional in 2005. He first made a Grand Slam impact when he was just 18 and making his Wimbledon debut in 2005. He reached the third round where he gave Argentina's David Nalbandian, the 2002 runner-up, a huge scare.

But amongst the first questions posed at a news conference was an enquiry far removed from tennis. A journalist asked Murray about his recollection of his schooldays in Dunblane, where he had been a pupil when deranged gunman Thomas Hamilton burst in and murdered 16 children and one teacher in 1996.

He recalled surviving by hiding under a desk in the headmaster's office. With such a childhood trauma, it is hardly surprising that 25-year-old Murray comes across as a hard man to read.

Murray, with over £20 million banked from his career, does not suffer fools gladly and talks straight, his often unsmiling demeanour presented to the media at odds with a man known as a joker amongst his close friends.

That granite exterior was softened - probably forever - when he broke down in tears after his loss in July's Wimbledon final to Roger Federer, his fourth successive flop in a Grand Slam final.

He then became a national hero last month when he captured an Olympic Games gold medal, gaining revenge on Federer.

In an era that is dominated by Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, Murray has managed to make a place for himself. With his US Open win, he has become World No. 3.

Although he has won 24 singles titles in his 7-year long career but his first Grand Slam title came only in 2012. He defeated World No. 2 Djokovic 7-6 (10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2 in the longest final in the history of the US Open.

(With agency inputs)