Wimbledon 2026: A decade after Andy Murray and British tennis’ golden weekend
The party hangover has long since faded, but the effects of that golden weekend for British tennis are still being felt today.
Murray won five more tour titles that year, including the ATP Finals, which secured his place as world number one and set a new standard for the next generation.
While no one has come close to emulating that since, there have been other successes over the last decade, including Emma Raducanu ending Britain’s 44-year wait for a Grand Slam singles title with her 2021 US Open victory, and a deep strengthening of British tennis, particularly in the men’s game.
While there were three men in the top 200 in the world singles rankings in 2016, this number has now increased to eight.
There was also a big rise in doubles; In the 10 years before 2016, the British had won just two Grand Slam doubles titles, but in the decade since then the number has been 20. Watson’s title was one of three British titles won that year; Murray’s brother Jamie won the other two and finished the year ranked world number one in doubles.
“Even though it’s an individual sport, there’s no doubt that having someone who sets the bar high will help you and even show you what’s possible,” former British number one Kyle Edmund said.
The impact of Britain’s spectacular weekend at Wimbledon is also being felt in wheelchair tennis; The Court 17 final, played in front of a few hundred fans, turned into a Court One show in front of thousands of spectators.
The ‘Murray effect’ is widely seen as contributing to increased participation at grassroots level; Last year the LTA reported its highest ever figures for adult annual participation – 5.8 million and four million children playing tennis each year.
British tennis’ governing body has also stepped up its investment over the past decade, including a £250 million investment in renovating public courts, increasing the number of indoor and floodlit courts and making online booking easier.
And although Murray has been retired for two years, his influence is still felt on the field, whether it be through his formal coaching of Jack Draper or the unofficial mentorship he gives to up-and-coming players.
“I feel like I can get through to him. I played nine holes of golf with him in December and had the chance to chat and ask him questions,” British number eight Jack Pinnington Jones said.
There are 21 British players in the main singles draw at Wimbledon this year; This includes three players advancing through qualifying for the first time since 1999, and we don’t yet know what that will bring.
But 2016? In Hewett’s words: “Wow, what a year.”
Additional reporting by Kate McKenna and Jonathan Jurejko
