Andy Murray took special pride in reaching the world No. 1 ranking in an era when Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – arguably some of the greatest players ever – have dominated the game.
The first Briton to achieve the feat, Murray will take over from Serb Djokovic when the ATP rankings are updated today.
And he achieved it even before his 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 victory over American John Isner in the Paris Masters final yesterday.
The top spot came in a somewhat fortuitous way on Saturday, when his Paris semi-final opponent, Canadian Milos Raonic, withdrew with a leg injury.
SATISFYING
Murray said: “That’s the most satisfying thing, really.
“It’s been such a difficult thing to do during my career because of how good the guys around me have been, the guys ahead of me.
“It has been really, really hard to do it, been really difficult. Obviously they are three of the best players that have ever played the game.”
The 29-year-old Murray is the 26th player to reach No. 1 since the creation of the rankings in 1973, but only the fourth man in almost 13 years.
Murray patiently fought his way to the top and he was satisfied that his hard work had been rewarded, even if in anti-climatic fashion.
“I felt like getting to No. 1, it wasn’t about this week and it wasn’t just about last week or a few days here and there. It’s about 12 months of work to get there,” the Scot said.
“It obviously felt a little bit strange when it happened. But everyone was talking about this week.
“It’s unfortunate the way that it happened today. I would have liked to have done it on the court, but it’s been many years of work to get here.”
Murray was far behind Djokovic after the Serb beat him in the French Open final in June, but an impressive series of victories – leading to titles in Wimbledon, Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna – combined with his rival’s loss in the Paris quarter-finals, propelled him to the top.
He said: “I was so far behind in terms of points, and the amount of matches it would take me to win.
“I never expected to do what I had done after the French Open.
“I was really down after I lost that match.
“But things can turn around quickly in sport, and it’s just a strange sport.
“You had Novak losing yesterday to a guy he’d beaten 14 times in a row.”
Murray will now set his sights on the ATP World Tour finals in London from Nov 13-20.
“Now that I have done it, I need to obviously sort of reset my goals and find the next thing to motivate me and try and push me to keep getting better,” he said. – Reuters.
You’ve come a long way, baby.
– Andy Murray’s mother, Judy
A remarkable journey of heartbreak, perseverance, hard work and success to make it to No. 1. Well done Andy. Never stopped believing and pushing.
– Former coach Darren Cahill
He’s got there! The new World No. 1! What an achievement, what a player. Well done Andy, no one deserves it more.
– Coach Jamie Delgado
11½ years as a professional, 798 matches, 42 career titles, one sporting pinnacle reached.
– Wimbledon statement
FACT FILE
COUNTRY: Britain
AGE: 29 May 15, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Dunblane, Scotland
RESIDENCE: London
HEIGHT: 1.9m
WEIGHT: 84kg
PLAYS: Right-handed
TURNED PRO: 2005
COACHES: Ivan Lendl and Jamie Delgado
SINGLES TITLES: 42
GRAND SLAMS: 3 (US Open 2012; Wimbledon: 2013, 2016)
OLYMPIC MEDALS: 2 singles gold (2012, 2016), mixed doubles silver (2012)
CAREER PRIZE MONEY: US$52,504,008 ($72,655,000)
