Andy Murray: US Open boys’ title 20 years ago, Grand Slam continues without British tennis legend

Murray’s dry sense of humor was already well established in his youth.

“Who is the greatest player in Scottish history?” asked one journalist.

“Me?” he replied.

Murray added: “My mum was a good player, but we’ve got a senior player who’s, like, 220th in the world. Other than him, there’s really nobody who’s been very good.”

That “senior” was Alan Mackin, whose circuit record was 1-15. Murray retired with a record of 739-262.

Murray’s first opponent in the 2004 junior title race was 15-year-old Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro, who was beaten 6-0 6-1.

Twelve years later, Murray beat Del Potro again in the final of the Rio Olympics – by which time both men had already won a US Open men’s title.

And if there is a certain familiarity surrounding the name Stakhovsky, the man who stood in Murray’s way in the final, there is good reason for it.

The Ukrainian won a crushing victory over Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2013, boasting that he had “kicked the Swiss’s butt”. While Federer was struggling with a bad back, Murray also powered to that title.

Murray retired just a few weeks ago. His body had been sending him warning messages for years; his mind finally paid attention.

His game was born in Dunblane and developed in Spain, but it was in New York that observers began to measure him against the best British player, Henman.

“I’ve been compared to him a lot, which is great,” Murray said in 2004. “I think I can do it. But right now, I’m not nearly as good as Tim.”

Henman has reached six Grand Slam semi-finals – the last coincidentally coming at the 2004 US Open – but a final has remained elusive.

After beating Stakhovsky, Murray acknowledged the burden that lay ahead.

“This tournament is an important event for me, but in a few years everyone will have forgotten about it and I will be expected to win Grand Slam tournaments in seniors,” he said. “I believe I can reach the top.”