Leader: Scottish sporting gloom brightened by Murray’s blaze

THESE are dark days for Scottish sport. The nation’s rugby team failed to make it through the pool stages of the rugby World Cup.

However valiantly the team played against England, the quality of the semi final games leave in no doubt the distance we have still to travel. Our football team failed to qualify for even the play-offs to reach Euro 2012. This is the seventh consecutive football major championship that Scotland has missed, and a 1-0 victory over mighty Liechtenstein is hardly the foundation for a glittering renaissance.

At club level in football, the game is denuded of cash and Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell says he now fears for the future of football north of the Border.

In golf – a sport we call our own – Scotland has for some time struggled to produce great players on the world stage.

But in tennis we do have a hero: Andy Murray. He is now ranked number three in the world, overtaking Roger Federer, widely regarded as the greatest player of all time.

Andy Murray has now won three titles in succession and has lost only one of his last 26 matches. He may not have a showbiz way at interviews, but he has inspired a generation to take up tennis. His example inspires all in Scottish sport. Well played, Andy.