FOR so many years, Great Britain was a joke in the tennis world. We were perennial losers, unable to make our mark, while other less wealthy nations outshone us.

Not anymore. Great Britain are the world champions of tennis after winning the Davis Cup in Belgium.

Make no mistake - this was British sporting history being made and Leon Smith's team have rightly written their names in folklore.

The Davis Cup is a team event and we must not forget that the entire British team have played their part. Had it not been for James Ward beating the world-class John Isner against the USA back in March, Great Britain may not have got any further.

Had it not been for the elite doubles ability of Jamie Murray, so many crucial rubbers would not have been won.

But, of course, it is being able to call on one of the world's greatest players in Andy Murray that has brought Great Britain to the pinnacle of the sport. He has now won the US Open, gold at the London Olympics, Wimbledon, and now ended a 79-year wait to bring home the David Cup.

Let us hope that British tennis will be inspired to build on the glory of 2015. The Davis Cup must be taken to every tennis club, in every community in the land.

And what a dilemma we face in choosing the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Will it be three-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton? Will it be Tyson Fury who shocked boxing by beating Wladimir Klitschko to become heavyweight world champion on Saturday night? Or will it be Andy Murray whose heroics took his country to the top of the world?

Whatever the individual result, the team of the year will surely belong to tennis.