British No1 Andy Murray Sean Dempsey/PA

Murraymania has swept Great Britain – and the world No3 could not be happier.

Andy Murray loves the thought of inspiring Brits to take up tennis, although he doesn’t want that racquet to go back in the cupboard once Wimbledon fortnight is over. Instead, he wants a new wave of talent to emerge.

“This period of the year is great for tennis in the UK ­because everyone watches people play it,” said the Scot, who was this morning preparing for his quarter-final showdown with Juan Carlos Ferrero.

“It’s really about getting that message out there for the three, four or five months after Wimbledon to make sure that people continue playing it.

“If I help some kids to start playing tennis or to enjoy watching it or keep playing then it’s obviously very good.”

Millions tuned in to watch Murray’s fourth-round match, a five-set epic over Stanislas Wawrinka. But he is mindful of history not repeating itself. He won a five-setter against Richard Gasquet in the fourth round last year, but was out of steam when he came to face Rafael Nadal. This year, you sense, will be different.

“Last year, when I played against Gasquet, it was the first time I had played a match like that at Wimbledon and had to come back a couple of days later for one that was even more important,” he said. “I just felt emotionally flat on that occasion but I feel fine just now.

"If I help some kids to start playing tennis or to enjoy watching it, then it’s obviously very good"

“I’ll just have to see how I feel when I get back on to Centre Court. I think I know how to recover better than I did before.

“I’ve got the right guys around me and they know how my body works so we’ll do the right things to get me ready.”

He added: “I’ve got the chance to go further than I did here last year and an opportunity to win the tournament.

“That’s my goal and an example of the change in mentality.

“Last year I did think that I could win the tournament but it’s not until you get past the quarter-final stage, or get to the final of a slam, that you really know what that feels like.”

Murray certainly seems unfazed by all the hype; rather than fret and sweat at home, he fills his time by naming players after snacks. Efforts so far include Rafael Pot Noodle (Nadal), Ryvita (Vitas) Gerulaitis, John McEnrolo (McEnroe) and Michael Stick (Stich) of Rock. Of the last one, he said: “It wasn’t great.”

And as for himself? “Murray Mints was really the only one, but that’s quite old.”