FIVE years ago, the word ‘adored’ was not one you thought would ever describe how the British public thought of Andy Murray.
But now he is on the verge of ending another record-breaking year with one more milestone.
No one has ever won three BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
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Yet the Wimbledon and Olympic champion and world No 1 is odds-on favourite for his third title in four years.
And Leon Smith — once his coach and now Davis Cup captain — is delighted the Brits have come to love Murray.
Smith said: “The respect has been there for a long time.
“Everyone knows how difficult a sport it is. Everyone knows how difficult a generation it has been, and he has achieved so much
“But it’s not just respect now, the warmth of the British public and fellow sportsmen towards him is huge.
“He is adored now for what he has done for his country, not just individually, in two Olympic Games and in Davis Cup. He goes the extra mile for his country.”
It is not so easy to tell how much Murray enjoys being adored.
When Murray won his first SPOTY in 2013, he joked: “No matter how excited I try to sound, my voice always sounds boring. That’s just my voice, I’m sorry — I’m very excited right now.”
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Smith was there when Murray lifted the SPOTY trophy for the second time, 12 months ago.
He said: “I saw first-hand what it means to him last year when we were there getting Team of the Year.
“You could hear in his voice, see in his body language, how much it meant.
“When you put that much into your sport and you live your life the way he does with full, unwavering commitment, it feels very special to be recognised in that way.”
Murray, 29, will not be in Birmingham to get the award if he wins tonight — because that would sacrifice the very principles which put him in position to win.
Smith is just back from America where he checked up on the pre-season work of British players — including Murray.
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Smith added: “If he came back he would have to leave the day before, so he would miss that day, the day of SPOTY, the day after, and probably the day after that.
“So you are pretty much writing off five, six, seven days which could have been quality, time. It’s as simple as that.
“People might think he’s No 1 now and he’s had a really busy year, he’s going to wind down.
“But he’s pushing himself as hard as I have ever seen him push himself.”
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