Andy will retire as our national hero

ANDY Murray grew up in public and won everyone over in the process.

It is not an exaggeration to say the tennis star turned out to be one of Scotland’s greatest ever sporting figures. He might just be the greatest of them all.

The outpouring of good wishes for him as he announced his retirement is testament to that.

His victories at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Olympics were enormous achievements not only for him but for the whole nation.

Not everyone “got” him though. Some critics were unsure because of his apparently dour demeanour.

They wondered why he didn’t seem content with failure – instead of making his frustration known on the tennis court.

But there surely cannot be any doubters left. It’s not just his trophies which won people over. Behind the serious face is an infectious and quick sense of humour, often at his own expense.

He has done wonders to encourage young talent and strike a blow for equality.

His clear commitment to his talented family won over people who probably wouldn’t dream of picking up a tennis racquet.

Put simply, Scots see the best of themselves in Andy Murray. He will be a loss to the sport at the highest level.

But there is no doubt he’ll continue to make a mark in the world of tennis and continue to do wonders for Scotland’s reputation.