Since the retirements of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski in 2007, former Wimbledon champion Murray has been Britain's lone standard bearer in the upper echelons of the men's tour.
But the 29-year-old's recent experiences at Queen's Club suggests a new generation could be worthy of following in his footsteps just in time for the start of Wimbledon on Monday.
For years, Murray's compatriots have been dispatched from their home Grand Slam in such a hurry that the tournament is usually not more than 24 hours old before the blame game begins as the British media turn their guns on everyone from the players to the Lawn Tennis Association and the sporting public's apathetic attitude to tennis outside Wimbledon.
Such has been the dearth of quality players to emerge from Britain since Murray burst onto the scene in 2005 that the Scot's Queen's second round tie against Aljaz Bedene was the first time he had played a fellow Brit since an encounter with Henman a decade earlier.
Slovenia-born Bedene batted gamely before succumbing to a straight sets defeat that gave both the world number 55 and Murray encouragement that there is better to come from the 26-year-old.
"He serves well, has a nice forehand and he's quick," Murray said.
"He'll get better. I don't think 58 or 50 will be his best ranking. He'll go higher than that."
