THE summer of 2013 has been full of sporting memories that will live long in the memories of British sports fans.

Justin Rose's US Open triumph, the British & Irish Lions winning in Australia, Chris Froome's march to Tour de France glory and now England's resounding Ashes triumph have all ensured the 2012 feel-good factor has continued this summer.

But while all of the above had us on the edge of our seats and subsequently celebrating in the streets, none of them come close to Andy Murray's Wimbledon success, according to former British No.1 Tim Henman.

Henman, speaking in his role as an ambassador for HSBC, knows first hand just how hard it is to rule supreme at the All England Club having reached four Wimbledon semi-finals during his career.

But where Henman failed to become the first Briton to win the men's singles title since Fred Perry in 1936, Murray re-wrote the history books as he dispatched Novak Djokovic in a memorable final back in July to end 77 years of hurt for British tennis fans.

Understandably, Murray has been slow to return to action, losing to Latvia's Ernests Gulbis in Montreal last week before moving on to last week's Cincinnati Masters, where he reached the quarter-finals.

Murray's time in North America is all geared towards the US Open when he will once again look to emerge from Perry's shadow with the eight-time Grand Slam winner the last British man to retain a Grand Slam title, winning Wimbledon in 1935 and 1936, something which the current British No.1 will seek to emulate at Flushing Meadows.

And while Henman is confident Murray can continue his winning streak in New York, he didn't hesitate to hail the Scot's summer success as one of the greatest achievements in world sport.

"After his performance in the summer over here at Queens and then Wimbledon, it was incredible and one of the best sporting performances in any sport in Britain for many years," said Henman, who was speaking at the HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14 & under Challenge.

"It was always going to take him a little bit of time to get back into the swing of things with a different surface and different conditions and a new status and as he has pointed out this is the lead up to the US Open.

"I am sure when he heads to New York he will be ready to go. He was perhaps a little bit underdone in Montreal and Gulbis is a good player - and if you are not quite on your game, you will lose.

"But I think that emphasises just how good a performance it was at Wimbledon because the margins are very small but he just played incredibly well.

"Wimbledon is only going to give him more confidence going to New York and he knows what it takes to win there."

Despite the shocks that reverberated around the All England Club this year, Henman sees the final Slam of the season as a three-way race between the defending champion, world No.1 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, winner in Canada and Cincinnati.

"After Wimbledon people were saying Nadal wouldn't be able to play because of his knees, but he has come out on hard courts which is historically the toughest surface for his knees and won his 25th Masters Series," he added.

"Novak is still world No.1, you can't forget that. He beat Murray in the Australian Open and reached the Wimbledon final, so it's a great season.

"Andy may have been a bit undercooked in Canada but it's a new phase now and, if anything, I think he will be even more confident than last year.

"It is not going to get any easier for Andy Murray but it's between Murray, Nadal, Federer and Djokovic."

Henman also talked up the chances of five-time US Open champion Roger Federer, insisting the Swiss world No.5 could spring a major surprise in New York.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner has struggled this summer but is fit after a back complaint which saw him skip Montreal.

"You can't write off Roger,' Henman said. "Yes, he's 32, but one bad Grand Slam in 10 years (a second-round exit at Wimbledon to Sergei Stakhosky) doesn't mean it's all over.

"If he's fit, he is still a champion and could be a real threat in New York."

Tim Henman is an Ambassador for HSBC, sponsor of the HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14 & under Challenge, the UK's largest national junior grass court tournament. The HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14 & under Challenge forms part of HSBC's investment in the stars of the future.