In a flattering interview titled “Gilles Muller finds success in tennis at an age when others retire”, published on 16 August, the 34-year-old said that being born and raised in such a small country with no tennis tradition, meant less pressure, compared to his peers in bigger countries like France or Germany.

“If you have a few big results, people think you’re going to be No. 1. You’re in the press, and some of those guys have been on the cover of magazines at age 12 or 13,” he was quoted as saying.

On the down side Muller explained he had to overcome a lack of career guidance and financial support from a federation.

“If you look at all the French players which I’m friends with, they obviously had so much help from the federation. Even now in their 30s, they have a physio travelling with them, and it’s the federation who is paying. If you’re born in a big country and play for a big country, the help around is different. You also have players that have played on the top that can help you as role models to guide you.”

Muller-mania swept through Luxembourg this year after the player won his first two ATP titles, in Sydney in January, and at 's-Hetogenbosch, Netherlands in June. Muller said in the interview that it took a huge weight off his shoulders to achieve his first title.

Add to that Muller's victory against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon this year, propelling him to 21, he said he was happy to have achieved a lot of big goals in 2017. “It also gives me a lot of motivation to keep going, because I think I’m able to do more things than what I did so far,” he was quoted as saying.

The article was shared on Twitter by Luxembourg prime minister Xavier Bettel who described Muller as “an impressive sportsman and an excellent ambassador for Luxembourg”.