MATT Little, Andy Murray's long-term fitness trainer, reckons that getting the Scot through the clay and grass court seasons without any injury niggles is as big a success as the 29-year-old lifting the trophy itself. Murray underwent serious back surgery in late 2013, not long after his previous Wimbledon triumph, and it has been long road to get him back amongst the major titles. From physios, nutritionists, pilates instructors to his lead coaches Ivan Lendl and Jamie Delgado, the Scot's win has been a team success and Little, part of the team for nine years now, believes that all deserve their own share of the credit.

"To think that he would get through this tournament off the back of that French Open and that clay-court season without any niggles at all is for us as big a success as Andy lifting the trophy himself because it wasn't looking that way after the back surgery," said Little. "He was in a lot of pain and frankly it is testament to his work but also to how we have worked together as a team. It has been a real big success story."

Little revealed that a heart-to-heart in the wake of that wounding defeat to Novak Djokovic in the French Open final had paid dividends, with Lendl's recruitment completed soon afterwards. Even the Czech was spotted tearing up on Sunday, even if he tried to pass it off, in the words of Murray, as his allergies playing up.

"It has been a long journey since the last time he [Andy] won," said Little. "He has put a lot of hard work in and dedicated himself completely as always. It's very special because he has had quite a few tough times since his last one actually, including the surgery and lots of changes in the team and I think he is very relieved, but this time really ecstatic as well.

"When he lost the French Open final, we were sitting around the table having a discussion about it that night to say 'how much harder can we push you?'" recalled Little. "'How much extra can we get out of you?' and there were some soul searching moments there actually. The emotion is from thinking about the journey since the last time he won a slam and how much work everyone has put in despite all the change and all of the adversity that comes along with it."