So, tennis’s tantalising Tartan Triple wasn’t to be after all. Hang on, let’s not be too greedy. Two Scottish Australian Open champions - Jamie Murray in the doubles and Gordon Reid in the wheelchair singles - and Andy Murray in the final isn’t bad. Especially when Scotland has no history of tennis greatness. And especially when Murray Jnr inevitably finds himself up against this sport’s irritatingly invincible current titan (I’m starting to think a frying pan over the head is the only way to beat Novak Djokovic).

Yesterday’s defeat will hurt like hell for Andy Murray, but it should do nothing to diminish him in our eyes. He has nothing to prove to us. On the contrary, we are lucky to be living in the same era as our country’s greatest ever sportsman, fortunate to have had the chance to take such pleasure and pride in his phenomenal sporting achievements, which include two grand slams, an Olympic gold and a team Davis Cup won almost single-handedly. I was at the latter event at Glasgow’s Emirates stadium last year and saw Andy Murray triumph on home turf; I can honestly say it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

All of which makes you wonder why Scotland continues to disrespect Andy Murray by failing to build a legacy for his greatness. We talk the talk about how much we love and value him, how much he has given to our nation, what a wonderful role model he is for our young people. We vote him Sports Personality of the Year, speculate about a knighthood. But talk is cheap. When it comes to the crunch, we belittle Andy’s achievements by wilfully ignoring the only real and practical way we can and should honour him: building indoor tennis courts in his name.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise - indoor courts are the single most important factor in producing elite players in cold, rainy countries like Scotland. It’s not rocket science. If you can’t practise all year round, you can’t get good. And if you don’t get good, really good, you’ll have no chance against other good people, which will hold you back from getting better.

Glasgow’s young tennis hopefuls - and those of us who enjoy playing year round - are luckier than most, of course, in that they have two fantastic public indoor tennis centres, at Gorbals and Scotstoun. Edinburgh also has some indoor opportunities, as does Aberdeen. The vast majority of Scotland, however, has no indoor facilities at all. Fife has 250,000 people and just one indoor court - at an exclusive spa resort near St Andrews.

The Murray brothers have always been clear that they could never have become tennis professionals if they hadn’t had the chance to play indoors in Stirling, just 15 minutes from their home in Dunblane.

And yet we are failing to listen to their experience or take their advice. Andy, Jamie and their inspirational coaching mother, Judy, have for years been vocal in their criticism of the tennis authorities for failing to build more indoor facilities and provide competitive opportunities or talented young players. Andy often points to the fact that few young Brits, let alone Scots, make it to the junior grand slams. He says they are held back to due to a lack of competition structure at home, which stems from the lack of indoor facilities. See, we’re going round in circles again.

Failing to listen is one thing, of course, blatantly sticking the middle finger up is another. But that’s exactly what’s happening to Judy Murray at this moment. Her ambitious plan for an indoor tennis centre at Park of Keir in Dunblane, a fantastic joint development with golfer Colin Montgomerie that would have provided unrivalled indoor tennis facilities for public use, is now dead in the water after being refused planning permission twice, following protests about a few new houses that would have to be built on the site in order to pay for the sporting facilities.

Judy Murray has already given her life to tennis. She was prepared to give even more, but her generous offer has been continually turned down. How utterly, utterly, sad. Who will suffer? Scotland’s next generation of promising players, of course. And, ultimately, the Scottish public, who, thanks to her son’s achievements, have grown into the most passionate tennis fans in the world.

It should be noted that both sportscotland and the Lawn Tennis Association have promised multi-million pound investments in Scottish tennis over the next few years. Any investment is welcome, of course. But without a commitment to build indoor facilities up and down this cold and rainy land, it is unlikely to bear fruit.

Until we get such a commitment, all our warm words about building a legacy for Andy Murray are empty and hypocritical. And promising young players will turn instead to football, swimming or judo. We owe Andy so much more than this.