Teachers' Day Special: Judy Murray and Gloria Connors - The pillars for Andy and Jimmy

Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the US Open Championship trophy next to his mother Judy Murray

“They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even when you don’t know it” ? Nicholas Sparks in ‘Dear John’ on the role that teachers play.

Tennis has witnessed some of the most amazing teachers throughout the years but there have been very few mother-son combinations that resulted in stupendous success.

From Gloria Connors to Judy Murray, these tennis mothers battled against the conventional notion of having male coaches, and devoted themselves selflessly to infusing their sons with a winner’s mind and heart.

They have exulted in their sons’ moments of glory and when they have failed, they have inspired them to pick up the tatters and try again; needless to say, have been their best teachers.

When Judy was seen sobbing profusely at the end of the 2013 Wimbledon final, it was a moment of fulfilment of a lifetime of ambition, encouragement, belief and faith – a journey that started when Judy, a former top Scottish player herself, passed on her sheer love and passion for the game to her kids, Jamie and Andy, when they were toddlers.

By inventing indigenous games like spongeballs and hitting balloons, Judy inculcated an in-depth love for sports in her two young boys, something which can now be seen in Andy Murray’s numerous tweets on various sports.

She would tirelessly hit with her two young sons and try to develop their hand-eye coordination and help them calm themselves and concentrate with full focus. Judy has since been intricately associated with both her sons’ careers and even started coaching them after being appointed the national coach by the Scottish Lawn Tennis Association.

She kept playing the role of the tennis matriarch and motivator with the utmost perfection. From driving her kids around to giving them the opportunity to play to letting them grow up as independent players, willing to fight on their own, Judy has been their friend, philosopher and guide.

Unsurprisingly, such an amazing bond has been witness to many delicate moments which can be communicated only between mother and son. When Andy succumbed in the 2010 Australian Open final, Judy said: “I will never forget him looking at me and saying ‘I’m so sorry, mum’.

“I pushed him away and said ‘Andy, don’t ever tell me you are sorry. Have you any idea how great that is for me, watching you on one of the best courts in the world? Your time will come, never forget that’.”

Having her in his box is an asset for Andy who has often said that his mum is the one who understands him the best. She is the one who will scream her lungs out, cheering for her son above the 15, 000-capacity crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was once reported that Ivan Lendl, Murray’s current coach, requested that if she was going to sit behind him, she better bring him ear-plugs!

Yet, time and again these matriarchs have had to face the wrath of a patriarchal society. Judy has often been referred to as the Tiger Mum of British tennis, and a steady inflow of hate mails and messages from her detractors have been a regular feature. From her demeanour to her style – everything has been criticized, and for years she has been branded as a ‘pushy’ mom.