ON TOP OF THE WORLD!
But becoming a dad is much better than being world No1
ANDY MURRAY has been crowned the best tennis player in the world after replacing Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings — without having to hit a ball.
The Briton became world No1 by reaching the final of the Paris Masters after semi-final opponent Milos Raonic withdrew through injury. ‘The year I’ve had to get there has been unbelievably difficult,’ said Murray.
ANDY MURRAY has described gaining the world No1 spot as the hardest thing he has done in his life — but not necessarily the best.
The 29-year-old’s new ranking was confirmed when Paris Masters semi-final opponent Milos Raonic withdrew through injury. He listed becoming a father to baby Sophia as his favourite happening in 2016 and felt that reaching the No1 spot was tougher than winning Wimbledon, the Olympics or the Davis Cup.
‘This would have been the hardest of those things to achieve because of how long it takes and how many events you have to play well in to get here,’ said Murray, who faces John Isner in today’s final.
‘Becoming a parent would be the best — and the most life-changing. On a professional level, Wimbledon was probably the most important of how my year ended up going.
‘In the Olympics, winning the final made that more special with the way the event went. I didn’t play that great except in the semis.’
Murray has deposed Novak Djokovic, who spent 122 weeks as No1, after winning seven titles this season. ‘It wasn’t something that I necessarily felt like I was going to do after the French Open or at the beginning of the year,’ said Murray.
‘I was so far behind in terms of points and with the amount of matches it would take me to win. I was really down after I lost that final at Roland Garros.
‘This is quite different, because at the Slams you prepare for them and the result comes quite quick, in the space of two weeks. With this, it takes such a long time to get there. And especially at this stage of my career, it’s more satisfying in some ways, for sure.
‘I had always imagined doing it on the court. Last night before I went to bed I was imagining doing it, kind of thinking about it happening on the court after a match.
‘It has been really hard to do it, really difficult. Obviously they [main rivals Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Djokovic] are three of the best players that have ever played the game. Some of the years that they have had in that period have been ridiculous, really,
put themselves through. “Caviar eventually tastes just ordinary,” said the German once, about how repetitive triumphs can sate the appetite of the most ambitious player.
WHILE there are other issues, such as upheaval in his private life, Djokovic has spoken about how achieving the longterm goal of winning Roland Garros has led to him suffering motivational problems. In a reference after he lost in Friday’s quarter final, the Serb talked of how his success ‘raised questions in which direction I want to go.’
He could actually wrest back the No 1 ranking as soon as the forthcoming Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, as Murray will not be taking a big lead into the year-end finals at the 02 Arena. It is the Scot’s misfor- tune that the ATP have this year stripped the Davis Cup and Olympics of the ranking points they deserve, otherwise his advantage would be more pronounced.
Djokovic, 29, who has also complained of nagging injuries, may rediscover his vim. If he does not, then there has to be every chance that Murray can make up for previous missed opportunities in eight of his 11 Grand Slam finals and double his present tally of three.
It is interesting to recall Lendl’s words on the night his player won Wimbledon 2013, as they celebrated at the Champions’ Dinner.
‘Every champion knows how many majors they won,’ said Lendl. ‘Nobody remembers how many weeks they were No1.’
But they certainly recall whether they ever got there or not, and that is now among the claims of this singular athlete.