The hangovers from the party have long been slept off but the after-effects of that golden weekend for British tennis are still being felt today.
Murray went on to win another five tour titles that year, including the ATP Finals that secured the world number one spot 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 past decade, including Emma Raducanu ending Britain’s 44-year wait for a female Grand Slam singles champion with her 2021 US Open victory and a strengthening in depth within British tennis particularly in the men’s game.
In 2016 there were three men in the top 200 of the singles world rankings, which has grown to eight now.
There has also been a huge upturn in doubles – in the 10 years before 2016 there had been only two Grand Slam doubles trophies won by Britons, while in the decade since there have been 20. Watson’s title was one of three won by Britons that year, with Murray’s brother Jamie winning the other two and also ending the year as doubles world number one.
“Even though it’s an individual sport, there’s no doubt that having someone who does set the bar high helps and even just shows you what’s possible,” said former British number one Kyle Edmund.
The influence of that great weekend of British success at Wimbledon is also being felt in wheelchair tennis, where a Court 17 final in front of a couple of hundred fans has grown to a Court One showpiece in front of thousands.
The ‘Murray effect’ has been widely viewed as contributing to increases in participation at grassroots level, with the LTA last year reporting the highest ever figures for adult annual participation of 5.8 million and four million children playing tennis each year.
British tennis’ governing body has also stepped up its investment, including a £250m injection over the past decade into refurbishing public courts, raising the number of covered and floodlit courts and making it easier to book online.
And, even though Murray has been retired for two years, his influence is still been felt on court, whether through his formal coaching of Jack Draper or his informal mentoring of up-and-coming players.
“I feel like I can reach out to him. I played nine holes of golf with him in December and got to chat and ask him questions,” British number eight Jack Pinnington Jones said.
There are 21 British players in the main singles draws at Wimbledon this year, including for the first time since 1999 three who have progressed from qualifying, and it remains to be seen what that will bring.
But 2016? Well, in the words of Hewett: “Wow, what a year.”
Additional reporting by Kate McKenna and Jonathan Jurejko
