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The Murray brothers are not the only wildly talented tennis players to hail from Dunblane. From the same town is 15 year old Katie Gater, who has successfully crossed various age gaps over the past year.
In 2006 she won the Scottish Senior Indoor Championships but, ironically did not perform as well in her own under 16 age group event, nor in the under 18s. Last week she upset the top seed en route to winning the Scottish under 18 Indoor title at the Gorbels, an event she had won as a 13 year old. But on Sunday, her senior title slipped from her grasp in the semi finals at Scotstoun.
Last year was a bit hit and miss because of an elbow injury and at some tournaments I just had to go with how my elbow felt, said Katie before heading to the Scotstoun tournament.
Fortunately, I've been with the Central Institute since I was 13. They gave me a lot of physio support for my elbow and I'm becoming much stronger because they give me access to the gym. It was really good to win the 18s title again. It shows I'm improving.
Karen Ross, Katie's coach, admits last weekend's Scotstoun result had been a disappointment for the 15 year old, but she is very positive for the long term.
Katie's very gutsy, uses her forehand well and her serve has improved a lot recently, said Ross.
She's only 15 so to play and win the under 18's is a big achievement. She beat the top seed, Ceara Howey, in the semi finals by outsmarting her and using her cross court backhand to open up the court.
Katie, who was taken to her local tennis club when in P1 because her mother wanted her to get some after school sport, hopes to become a full time player once her Highers are behind her. She believes the Murray, and more recently, the Dyce-effect, has given Scottish tennis youngsters a boost.
It's so good for Scottish tennis that someone you see regularly training and playing is doing well, she said. It inspires me to do well.
