No matter what happens between now and 10th June, 2013, when the next edition of the Aegon Championships begins, Britain’s Andy Murray will arrive at The Queen’s Club as a Grand Slam champion.

Murray’s stunning, five-set win in the final ensured that he will never again be asked if he has it in him to win a major title. In 2013, he will be into the second year of a five-year commitment to the Aegon Championships, and will be greeted with a rapturous reception after becoming the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles crown in 76 years. The last time it happened was when Fred Perry won the US Open in 1936.

Murray had been the form player throughout the summer. He reached his first Wimbledon final, winning the first set against Roger Federer and pushing him throughout the second set before going down in four, and then beat the Swiss player in straight sets a couple of weeks later to win Olympic gold at London 2012. When the man from Dunblane arrived in New York, he was in perfect shape and brimming with confidence.

There were a couple of nervous moments before the final. In the third round, he faced Feliciano Lopez, a big-serving left-hander who has regularly shown his prowess at The Queen’s Club over the years. It went to four sets, and Murray won three of them on tie-breaks in sweltering, draining conditions.

The other big test came at the hands of the current Aegon Championships title-holder Marin Cilic. The Croatian, who benefited from the disqualification of David Nalbandian in the final at The Queen’s Club last year, led Murray 6-3, 5-1 in the early stages of their quarter-final in Flushing Meadows. At that stage, Cilic was playing impressively and Murray looked listless. The Scot seized on some tension in his opponent when Cilic twice served for the set and stormed back to win in four sets.

In the semi-finals, Murray handled high winds better than Czech Tomas Berdych to prevail, and then put his feet up as the other semi between Djokovic and David Ferrer was postponed because of tornado warnings in the area. Djokovic eventually came through to meet him, but from the first moment in the final, Murray looked the more composed player in similarly blustery conditions.

He went two sets to love up, winning the first in an hour and a half and finishing it in an extraordinary 10-8 tie-break on his sixth set point. The second was almost just as close, as Murray withstood a mini-fight back from his opponent from 5-1 to take it 7-5. Djokovic snared the next two as Murray complained of legs which felt like “jelly”. But when he needed it most, the British man rediscovered the strength in his legs and the form of the first two sets to win it 6-2 and take the title.

Afterwards, a haze of disbelief and exhaustion enveloped Murray, who said: “When I realised I had won, I was a little bit shocked, I was very relieved and I was very emotional. It is what I have been working towards for the last 10 years of my life. It means the world to me.”

A couple of watching celebrity fans him found words easier to come by. Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United football manager who sat with Murray’s mother Judy to cheer him on, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm really proud for the boy. When he really needed to he showed it. That was a real test of a champion for me. I love tennis, I love watching tennis and to be involved was a really special moment. It was more nerve racking than a Premier League match. I'm usually in control of my own situation, but I wasn't in control tonight."

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey added: "I don't think I have ever wanted something more for someone. For all of us who either live in Britain, like I do, or from Britain, the place must be going nuts. It is so well deserved. I met Andy for the first time last week and tonight is one of the matches I will never forget. There's a time for sporting greats - and this is Andy's time."

Ivan Lendl, whom Murray turned to coach him on New Year’s Eve in 2011, pointed to more success in the future: "I didn't come here to have a good time; I came here to help Andy win. He did, so job done. Hopefully, we're not anywhere near where Andy can get. Andy has been maturing nicely as a player, as a competitor, as a person. As you mature you become more comfortable in these situations."

And so, the question of whether Andy Murray will ever win a Grand Slam singles title has been put to rest forever. Next question: can he win Wimbledon?

We will find out in due course, but one thing is for sure - the new US Open champion will try to win a third Aegon Championships crown in 2013 and beyond, and hone his game ahead of The Championships, Wimbledon at The Queen’s Club on what many regard as the best grass courts in the world.