When Murray was crowned the boy king of Queens

It's a uncommon summertime wherever Andy Murray is not successful a New York authorities of mind - but this is it.

Twenty years aft announcing himself to nan world pinch a US Open boys' title, Murray is opening his status decently pinch a family break successful Spain.

Tennis is happening and Murray is not a portion of it. This will return immoderate getting utilized to.

Murray, successful a reflective moment, mightiness formed an envious glimpse astatine his 17-year-old self, nan boy who by his ain reckoning was "nowhere adjacent arsenic good" arsenic Tim Henman but was possibly already Scotland's greatest-ever tennis player. The boy pinch patient hips and a aureate future.

The boy who fell caput complete heels for nan Big Apple.

How he'd emotion to do it each complete again.

It was while sitting courtside astatine Flushing Meadows for nan 2003 US Open women's last - an all-Belgian conflict betwixt Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters connected Arthur Ashe Stadium - that Murray realised that if he could make it anywhere, he'd really for illustration to make it here.

Later, Murray said: "The ambiance and everything that goes pinch nan centre tribunal present benignant of suits my characteristic a spot much than Wimbledon."

And astatine Flushing Meadows connected Sunday, 12 September 2004, Murray had his first sensation of Grand Slam glory.

He defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4 6-2 to go a inferior champion connected a humble extracurricular court, watched by a fewer 100 spectators.

During that tournament, he was known arsenic Andrew Murray to those of america covering his progress, external - until we learned that only his grandparents called him Andrew.

When mum Judy stood to acclaim nan life-changing victory, she was wearing a T-shirt base nan large-print logo 'FRED PERRY'. Absolutely nary pressure.

Not everyone pinch a liking successful nan crippled could beryllium there.

"I watched nan crippled by looking astatine nan people point-by-point connected nan internet," said his grandfather Roy Erskine afterwards. "I had a ample whisky watching nan updates connected nan screen."

Murray's crush connected New York blossomed. In 2005, he met his early woman Kim astatine nan US Open, and successful 2012 he beat Novak Djokovic to become Britain's first men's singles awesome victor since Perry, 76 years earlier.

"I've ever loved Wimbledon, but since I came present arsenic a junior, it was nan first clip I ever stayed successful a five-star hotel," Murray said successful 2008. "New York is 1 of my favourite cities. I emotion it."

Murray's barren humour was already established during his inferior days.

"Who's nan top subordinate successful nan history of Scotland?" a newsman probed.

"Me?" he replied.

Murray added: "My mum was an OK player, but we've sewage 1 elder feline who's, like, 220 successful nan world. Apart from him, there's not really anybody that's been very good."

That "senior guy" was Alan Mackin, whose win-loss circuit level grounds reached 1-15. Murray retired pinch a 739-262 tally.

First up for Murray successful nan 2004 inferior title tally was 15-year-old Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who was walloped 6-0 6-1.

Twelve years later, Murray hit Del Potro again in nan Rio Olympics final - by which constituent both men had won a US Open men's title.

And if location is familiarity astir nan sanction of Stakhovsky, nan man who stood successful Murray's measurement successful nan final, location is bully logic for that.

The Ukrainian achieved a jaw-dropping 2013 triumph against Roger Federer astatine Wimbledon, boasting he "kicked nan butt" of nan Swiss. With Federer nursing a sore backside, Murray swooped for that title, too.

Murray's status came conscionable weeks ago. His assemblage had been sending code-red messages for years; nan mind yet took heed.

His crippled was calved successful Dunblane and nurtured successful Spain, but New York was wherever observers began measuring him up against Britain's starring man Henman.

"I've been compared to him a lot, which is great," Murray said successful 2004. "I deliberation I tin do it. But conscionable now I'm obscurity adjacent arsenic bully arsenic Tim."

Henman reached six Slam semi-finals - nan past coincidentally came astatine nan 2004 US Open - but a last remained elusive.

After beating Stakhovsky, Murray acknowledged nan load coming his way.

"This tournament's a large woody for me, but successful a fewer years everyone's going to person forgotten astir it and they're going to beryllium looking for maine to triumph successful nan elder Grand Slams," he said. "I judge that I tin spell correct to nan top."

Junior singles champions astatine Slams seldom triumph fields arsenic adults.

Since Murray successful 2004, only 1 consequent boys' singles Grand Slam victor - Marin Cilic - has added a elder singles major.

Britain's Oli Golding won nan 2011 US Open boys' singles but only played 3 matches astatine ATP Tour level, losing each three.

Murray rode into an Uptown nightclub connected a achromatic horse, partied pinch Lindsay Lohan and nan Strokes, and had 1 of sport's awesome mislaid weeks.

Except, of course, that's not true.

"I've sewage to spell and get a formation now, which I'm a spot disappointed about," he said.

It was suggested he mightiness caput backmost to a celebratory haggis dinner.

"Well, I do for illustration haggis, but I don't really eat it and they don't waste it successful Spain," Murray said.

Barcelona had been Murray's location for a while, and section cuisine besides had its obstacles.

"I dislike paella," said nan teenager.

Perhaps Murray has since warmed to Spain's nationalist crockery - Carlos Alcaraz's favourite.

Either way, arsenic nan Murrays caput for nan Med, 1 point is disconnected nan paper for now: tennis.

You tin safely stake it won't stay that measurement for long.