History calling Andy Murray Down Under

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares hold their trophy after winning the men's doubles. Picture: Aaron Favila/AP

The Scot was in the audience to see his brother Jamie claim his first men’s doubles grand slam title yesterday.

That victory came just hours after 24-year-old Gordon Reid from Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, won the wheelchair singles.

The older of the Murray brothers battled back from a set down to take the title alongside his playing partner Bruno Soares.

The 29-year-old lost at the last hurdle with John Peers at both Wimbledon and the US Open last year but already has a Wimbledon title in mixed doubles.

Andy had said earlier that he found it too stressful to watch his brother live, but the world number two was in the crowd, along with Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, for the presentation ceremony, which took place just after 1am.

In his victory speech, Jamie said: “Andy, you should be in bed. I don’t know why you’re here taking photos.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was one of the first to offer congratulations to Murray and Soares on Twitter.

She wrote: “Barely 2pm and Scotland already has two #AusOpen champions. What a day for Scottish tennis.”

The younger of the Murray brothers will face a tough test against Djokovic, a player he has lost six times to in grand slams.

Andy is hoping to end a barren run of four defeats at the last hurdle in Melbourne, three coming at the hands of Djokovic and another against Roger Federer.

But while Murray has only beaten the Serbian once in their last 11 meetings, he might take inspiration from his rival on the other side of the net.

Djokovic lost five out of six major finals between 2012 and 2014, and the world number one is still to triumph at the French Open, losing his third final at Roland Garros to Stan Wawrinka last year.

Murray’s string of recent defeats against Djokovic do not tell the whole story.

He was up a break in the third set in the final here 12 months ago and then outplayed the Serbian for a set and a half at the French Open.

The key, he admits, is making those spells last.

“The most important thing for me is to sustain my level for long enough, not just for one set here or there, a few games here or there,” Murray said.

“I need to do it for a very long period if I want to get the win. That’s my challenge on Sunday.”