THIS was St Andy's Day. Not content with ending 77 years without a home winner of Wimbledon, yesterday the patron saint of Scottish and British tennis inspired these isles to become the epicentre of planet tennis.

Britain's first triumph in the world cup of the sport since the heyday of Fred Perry in 1936 came after Andy Murray won 11 of the 12 points which took Britain to the title. With brother Jamie also playing his part in three of them, that meant all but one originated in one modest family home in Dunblane.

No wonder first minister Nicola Sturgeon suggested renaming Scotland's national day in his honour and Lord Sugar said he would be recommending him for a knighthood.

When it arrived, the crowning moment was worth the wait. After the immaculate backhand lob which sealed this relentless 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 win against a defiant David Goffin to clinch this tie 3-1 and secure his 11th point of 2015, the World No 2 tumbled to the clay, his joyful team-mates piling on in celebration.

It had been a superhuman performance. But his humanity was show here also. It was entirely typical of the 28-year-old that even in his moment of glory, he didn't forget his manners. Instead, he pulled himself away to commiserate with Belgium captain Johan van Herck and his vanquished opponents. The waterworks followed, first from the a tearful World no 2 and then when the entire Great Britain squad doused their captain, Leon Smith who has taken them from facing relegation to the fourth tier of world tennis four years ago.

The Davis Cup trophy is a mighty thing, one of the weightiest trophies in sport. The extended British team - its other members including Andy's brother Jamie, Kyle Edmund, James Ward, Dom Inglot and Dan Evans - held it aloft in unison, and held their star man shoulder high, aware of the fact that one-man had succeeded in carrying them most of the way. The fireworks which followed were watched by his pregnant wife Kim, who is due to give birth in February, his grandparents Roy and Shirley Erskine, his mother Judy - who declared on Twitter 'Mission Accomplished - and his father Willie.

"I am quite emotional right now," said Andy. "It has been an incredible few years for us as a team, all the members of this team, the coaches, the stringers, everyone. I just can't believe we did it. I would imagine we will have a party tonight."

His tennis coach mother added: "It has been amazing three days.

"When I see the boys together it takes me back to when they started at the tennis club in Dunblane, when they were so little. And just playing for fun. Now here they are at the very top of the game, winning the Davis Cup for Great Britain. It is not something I ever thought would happen to a Scottish family I guess, because we have no track record in the sport in the country. So what they have achieved I think is quite remarkable."

Meanwhile, congratulations poured in from the great and the good.

Author JK Rowling declared the British number one a "superstar"

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Congratulations to the GB Tennis Team for winning the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also branded the win "truly historic." The Apprentice star Lord Sugar said he would write to the Prime Minister to ensure he became Sir Andy. He wrote on Twitter: I am suggesting to the PM to award you with a Knighthood."

Former England striker Gary Lineker said: "Britain wins the Davis Cup for the first time in almost 80 years. Perhaps now we can give Andy Murray the credit and plaudits he deserves."

Fellow Wimbledon champion Boris Becker declared simply that Murray was 'amazing.'