17 Photos Of Andy Murray’s Long Road To Wimbledon

    From misunderstood teen to national treasure.

    Robin Edds
    by Robin Edds

    BuzzFeed Staff, UK

    1. 1999

    A 12-year-old Andy Murray competes in the Under 14s National Junior Championships in Nottingham...

    2. 1999

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    ...and wins.

    3. 2001

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    Andy went on to win the 15 & Under National Championships in Bournemouth.

    4. 2002

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    Aged just 15, Andy makes his first appearance at Wimbledon, competing in the boys tournament.

    5. 2003

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    Andy is pictured here competing in the Junior French Open and Roland Garros.

    6. 2004

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    Now 17, this would be Andy’s last appearance in the boys competition at Wimbledon.

    7. 2004

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    September 12, 2004 saw Andy’s career highlight up to this point as he won the Junior Finals of the US Open.

    8. 2004

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    From then on he was labelled as a future grand slam winner.

    9. 2004

    The much-hyped teen was constantly compared to Britain’s top two senior players, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, and was called up to the Davis Cup squad.

    10. 2005

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    This was the year that Andy Murray truly burst onto the scene. Here he is on his way to his first ever win in the Men’s Singles at Wimbledon, where he beat George Bastl of Switzerland.

    11. 2005

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    Though he lost to David Nalbandian in the third round, Andy Murray was already a household name, and the best was definitely yet to come.

    12. 2008

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    After three years of steadily climbing the rankings, the 2008 US Open saw the Scot’s first grand slam final. He lost to Roger Federer in straight sets, but by beating Rafa Nadal in the semis he had shown that he was a force to be reckoned with.

    13. 2012

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    Murray had already lost his first three grand slam finals when he once again met Federer in his maiden Wimbledon final. Despite winning the first set, history was repeated and Federer won in four. Cue one of the most heartbreaking interviews of all time...

    14. 2012

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    But just 28 days after breaking down on Centre Court redemption was his as he finally beat Federer. The fact that it was for Olympic gold at his home Games made it all the sweeter.

    15. 2012

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    Still riding high from London 2012, Andy went on to win his first grand slam at the US Open just five weeks later.

    16. 2013

    From then on Murray started to play without fear, culminating in a scene none of us thought we would live to witness. A Brit (and he is British) winning Wimbledon!