NEW YORK (Reuters) - Andy Murray won the opening two sets of the U.S. Open final 7-6 7-5 over defending champion Novak Djokovic on Monday, putting him one set away from becoming the first British man in 76 years to win a grand slam title.

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1st Set

Djokovic, frustrated by high winds Saturday in his semi-final before the match was suspended until Sunday, struggled in Monday's wind and was broken in the first game after four unforced errors and double-faulted to lose serve in the fifth.

Murray also lost his first serve after three unforced errors but looked to be dealing better with the blustery gusts until Djokovic began finding the range and moved the Briton around the court for a service break that leveled the match 4-4.

As both players began adapting to conditions, the set featured some spectacular rallies and went to a tiebreaker. Murray dominated but squandered five set points before Djokovic sent a service return long to end it 12-10 in Murray's favor.

Both players registered 19 unforced errors in the pressure-packed, 87-minute opener played in difficult conditions.

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2nd Set

Djokovic seemed to suffer a letdown after dropping the marathon tiebreaker and Murray pounced with breaks in the Serb's first two service games to charge into a 4-0 lead.

The 25-year-old Australian Open champion got one service break back in the fifth game when Murray ran off a string of unforced errors.

Olympic champion Murray was serving for the set at 5-3 but another three unforced errors helped Djokovic break him to bring the set back on serve at 5-4.

Murray, however, broke Djokovic in the 12th game, taking advantage of a missed overhand by the Serb to claim the set on a forehand that sailed long and put the Scotsman in position to claim his maiden grand slam crown.

(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Frank Pingue)