After fears that Andy Murray would just be another nearly man in British sports, he went on to record a legendary career.
Despite his prime years falling within the most difficult era in tennis history, the Scot claimed 46 tour-level titles, including three Grand Slams.
Murray claimed his first major trophy at the 2012 US Open, and ended the 77-year-long wait for a British winner in men’s singles at Wimbledon in 2013; a tournament he would win again in 2016.
Alongside his success at Grand Slams, he won two Olympic gold medals and secured world number one status in 2016.
The more he added to his title tally, the more accepted Murray became in his home country, but he certainly was not the most popular public figure in the UK at the start of his playing days.
What Andy Murray said about improving his behaviour in 2008
Murray was often branded ‘boring’ by fans, and in 2008, British tennis great Tim Henman called him ‘miserable’.
As per the BBC that year, Henman said he needed to improve his behaviour if he wanted to be a Wimbledon champion.
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Responding to Henman’s comments, Murray took the criticism well, and admitted his attitude was a part of his game that he was working on.
The then-21 year old said: “Sometimes I’m immature on court and that’s not acceptable.
“It needs to get better. This year it’s definitely been much better than the last four or five months of last year.”
“I personally think that off the court, I’m pretty happy and don’t get too down about things, but on the court, I could be more bubbly, if that’s what everybody thinks.
“I’ve watched matches of myself, and sometimes I think the way I act on court is great, and at other times I don’t like it.”
Andy Murray’s results that year after Tim Henman’s comments
Murray’s response was in May, following a fairly successful start to his 2008 campaign, but he enjoyed a very impressive second half of the season.
He achieved his best Grand Slam result at Wimbledon that summer, reaching the quarterfinals before being knocked out by Rafael Nadal.
Then, Murray won his first Masters title at the Cincinnati Open, and followed it up with a run to his first Grand Slam final at the US Open.
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Though he fell to Roger Federer in straight sets at Flushing Meadows, soon after, Murray clinched another Masters title in Madrid.
Murray earned his fifth tournament win of the season at the St Petersburg Open after that, and finished 2008 as the world number four.
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