The people v Andy Murray: Four weeks that changed him and us

Before he was Sir Andrew Murray OBE, world number one, three-time Grand Slam champion, 1 of nan nation's greatest-ever athletes... he was, to 1 female astatine least, thing altogether little celebratory.

In 2006, nan shot World Cup was taking spot astatine nan aforesaid clip arsenic Wimbledon. A 19-year-old Murray, himself erstwhile a promising younker footballer, joked successful an question and reply that he would support "whoever England were playing against".

It went down for illustration a lead balloon. He was abused successful nan comments of a blog he wrote connected his website and moreover his wristbands, dressed up pinch nan Scottish saltire, attracted scrutiny.

Murray had go a lightning rod, attracting ire successful an edgy Anglo-Scottish atmosphere. The erstwhile month, nan past Scottish First Minister had been criticised for saying he would not beryllium supporting England.

But nan guidance to Murray's joke was connected a acold larger scale.

In nan aftermath, Murray, playing only his 2nd Wimbledon, walked past a spectator connected nan measurement to his match. He overheard her telling a friend, successful expletive-laden and anti-Scottish language, that she had conscionable spotted him.

"I was like, What? I was 19. This is my location tournament. Why is this happening?" Murray remembered successful a 2017 interview., external

"I was still a kid and I was getting things sent to my locker saying things like: 'I dream you suffer each tennis lucifer for nan remainder of your life.'"

By nan clip 2012 rolled around, Murray had already surgery caller ground.

He had reached nan US Open last successful 2008, becoming nan first British man to make a awesome last since Greg Rusedski successful New York 11 years earlier.

Two further Slam last appearances followed - nan Australian Open successful 2010 and 2011 - but Britain was still searching for a first antheral awesome singles champion since Fred Perry successful 1936.

But nan ambivalence of immoderate of nan wide nationalist remained.

As nan Twitter joke went, Murray was British erstwhile he won and Scottish erstwhile he lost.

It sometimes seemed location was thing inordinate astir Murray - his outspokenness was loved to a definite point, his on-court anger amusing erstwhile he was winning but derided erstwhile he was losing.

At this point, Murray was a nascent personnel of nan Big Four. Roger Federer was transcendent, described arsenic a 'god', particularly astatine Wimbledon. Rafael Nadal had nan grit, nan determination, nan never-say-die attitude.

Novak Djokovic, different comparative newcomer trying to upset their duopoly, defied belief, limbs bending each which way, equipped pinch an endurance level and intelligence spot fewer tin match.

But Murray? Murray was nan astir human. A man who sometimes looked arsenic if he actively hated nan athletics of tennis. No-one could ever impeach Murray of hiding his emotions. And that rubbed up immoderate nan incorrect way.

He was accused of being whingey, of being anti-English, of being boring, erstwhile really he was doing what we each do - getting disappointment astir nan occupation and attempting to person a laughter on pinch it.

"I deliberation it's very difficult for immoderate young subordinate who is thrust into nan spotlight to get to grips aliases consciousness comfortable pinch facing and knowing nan media," said his mum Judy, speaking connected Andy Murray: Will to Win, a caller BBC Sport documentary.

"One of nan things successful tennis is that players person to look nan media aft each lucifer whether they triumph aliases lose. Of course, it's a batch easier to look nan media erstwhile you're winning.

"As an 18-year-old he'd had a small spot of media training but thing really prepares you for abruptly being successful beforehand of a room of astir 300 people.

"I deliberation his guidance to thing is to beryllium truthful and opportunity what you're thinking. In years to come, you will go overmuch much practised."