Any time soon, unless they have done so already, Andy Murray and Serena Williams will pack their bags, leave London 2012 behind and plot the next stage of their individual careers in what – for most of the year at least – is very much an individual sport.

Somewhere in Williams' luggage, as she heads back to the United States, will be two more Olympic gold medals – one singles and one doubles – to go with all those other major titles she has accumulated in a career where winning at the peak of her fitness has become almost second nature.

Murray, in all likelihood, will leave his two medals – one gold and one silver – at home in the safe hands of his girlfriend before beginning his preparation for yet another assault on a maiden Grand Slam title, this time the US Open.

But have no doubt about one thing. Tennis may still be considered by many to be too elitist to be worthy of a place in the Olympics alongside the likes of synchronised swimming and beach volleyball, but neither Williams nor Murray would trade what they have just achieved for anything right now. And who can blame them?

Serena Williams poses on the podium during the medal ceremomy after winning the Olympic gold medal in the singles

For all the money tennis players earn, for all the jetting round the world, staying in first-class hotels and being treated like royalty, nothing comes close to the Olympics in terms of showcasing the accessibility of a sport that is so often all about ruthless, sometimes selfish ambition.

Nothing wrong with ambition, of course, but just as the so-called minor sports have been enjoying their two weeks in the limelight, so the Olympic tennis tournament that ended on Sunday might well inspire those captivated by what they witnessed to take up a sport they may never previously have considered. And, who knows, ending up becoming the next Williams or Murray.

Tennis may have taken the best part of three generations to return to the Olympic fold – it was first introduced at the first modern Olympics of 1896 and was contested every four years until 1924 when it was dropped before becoming a medal event again in 1988 – but there is little doubt it deserves its place once more.

Andy Murray serves against Roger Federer during the men's singles tennis gold medal match 

Don't just take my word for it. When Williams and Murray crushed Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer, respectively, in those two extraordinary, jaw-dropping performances over the weekend, they were playing not for money and not for ego, but for the sheer glory of representing their countries. Well okay, maybe for a few ranking points as well, but certainly not primarily to feather their own nests.

Murray, swept along by a tide of patriotic fervour as he blasted his way through the field, credited Mo Farah's 10,000 metres title for spurring him on to the gold. But also at the back of his mind was what it would do for the future of British tennis, for so long lagging behind the rest of the world. The four Grand Slams may attract dedicated diehard tennis fans, but the Olympics somehow has the power to bring sport – any sport – within the reach of a wider audience.

"That's one of the reasons why the Olympics is so great," said Murray who was hugged by a tearful yet bouyant 11-year-old boy in his moment of triumph.


Laura Robson (right) and Andy Murray during the mixed doubles final at London 2012

"Everyone gets into sports that maybe they haven't watched before. If we can get more kids playing tennis, we have a better chance of producing champions. If we could just get five or ten percent more people playing, we may be able to compete one day with the big countries not just in tennis but all sports."

Much has been made, and rightly so, of how the quality of Murray's Olympic triumph was a crucial springboard in terms of his growing confidence and future title prospects. Just as important, however, was witnessing first hand what it meant to the Scot himself. You can say all the right things in public about what the Olympics means when you are surrounded by team mates. But to go out and prove it is a different matter.

"I know when I lost in Beijing in the first round how much that hurt," said Murray whose partnership with Laura Robson in the mixed doubles final was played out to an equally enthralled full house as his crushing defeat of the shell-shocked Federer. "You take a mixed doubles first round of a grand slam and there may only be a very few people watching," said Murray. "Here, they were there throughout."

Andy Murray in action at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games 

Williams, the first player in history to win two Olympic singles and doubles crowns as well as all four grand slams, may not be regarded by some as the most modest of sportswomen. But she, too, showed moments of heartwarming humility, not least with that endearing impromptu rap dance in the aftermath of victory on Centre Court.

"Words can't describe how satisfied I was," said Williams, who has defied the laws of physical recovery to re-emerge at her very best after months of injury and self-doubt. "To play for a gold medal alongside the swimming greats and gymnastic greats is the biggest prize there is. I lived or died with every match involving the American team."

Serena Williams hits a return to Russia's Maria Sharapova during their final at London 2012

So for those still doubting whether tennis merits its place in the Games, take a look at again at how Murray and Williams performed to see what it meant to them. And check out how many of the top players head down to Rio in four years' time. Does an Olympic gold medal represent the pinnacle of success compared to the Grand Slams? Let's not kid ourselves. Probably not. But it is getting closer and closer every four years to being equally special.

Andrew Warshaw is a former sports editor of The European, the newspaper that broke the Bosman story in the 1990s, the most significant issue to shape professional football as we know it today. Before that, he worked for the Associated Press for 13 years in Geneva and London. He is now the chief football reporter for insidethegames and insideworldfootball. Follow him on Twitter.