The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Top of the world
Murray ends remarkable 2016 as world’s greatest with Tour Finals victory
Top 10 in the world
This was the first time the number one ranking had been decided on the final match of the season and it was hard to disagree when Djokovic described the contest as one of the biggest they will ever play.
Their 34 previous meetings, of which Djokovic had won 24, had included seven grand slam finals but this was a uniquely tense occasion.
So often Djokovic, the man born just a week later who he first played nearly 20 years ago, has been the one to break Murray’s heart at the biggest moments, but not this time.
The Scot said: “It was obviously a big, big match against someone who I’ve played so many big matches against in my career, that would be my main rival.
“We played in all of the slam finals, Olympics, obviously here now, and a match to finish the year number one. We played in loads of Masters Series finals, as well, and are one week apart in age.
“It’s obviously a very important win for me. This is a major event, as well, and one I’ve not done well in in the past. So it’s been a great week.”
When Djokovic defeated Murray to win the French Open in June and become the first man for 47 years to hold all four Grand Slam titles, it seemed inconceivable that 2016 would not belong to him. But instead it was the catalyst for a remarkable slump from the Serbian, one that Murray has taken full advantage of with an incredible second half of the season.
A second Wimbledon title and second Olympic gold have been the highlights but there have been seven other titles and unbeaten runs of 22 and now 24 matches.
In winning five matches at London’s O2 Arena – he had won only eight on his previous six visits combined – he defeated the players who will finish the year ranked second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
It turned out that the real hard work came in his three-hour plus victories over Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic.
Djokovic had appeared to have rediscovered his form at a venue where he had lost just one of his previous 23 matches but it turned out his veneer of confidence was paper thin.
The Serbian was a shadow of his peak self, making error after error and forcing Murray only to play solidly, which he certainly did.
A 50-50 match appeared to have swung decisively in Djokovic’s favour when Murray spent three hours and 38 minutes suppressing Raonic, while he breezed past Nishikori. Murray admitted he was tired, saying: “I didn’t feel great this morning. Thankfully the first seven games of the match, there were no long rallies really at all, which for us is strange.
“It wasn’t really until the middle of the second set when the rallies started to get extended and longer that my legs were starting to feel it. I was lucky I got it finished in two sets.”
Murray began to pile the pressure on in the sixth game but could not capitalise despite Djokovic missing one of the simplest shots of his career when he shanked a smash over the baseline.
The Scot broke through two games later, though, and appeared in cruise control at 4-1 in the second set.
Djokovic retrieved one of the breaks and finally began to find some penetration on his shots but he could not stop Murray and the contest was all over when the second seed missed a final backhand on the third match point.
Djokovic, who declined to say whether he would continue his three-year partnership with coach Boris Becker, said of his 2016: “Many highlights, many things to reflect on and be proud of. French Open is definitely on top of that list.
“I’ve had better seasons results-wise. But every year is an evolution for me. It’s hard to expect to repeat all these things forever.”
Murray heads into a brief offseason, which will include his father Willie’s wedding in Scotland, before turning his attention to trying to hold on to top spot.
He is in a great position to do so, with Djokovic having a huge amount of points to defend in the first half of the year, and winning a first Australian Open title after reaching the final five times will be his first big aim. Andy Murray heads into 2017 as the 26th man to be ranked world No 1 in tennis since the system began in 1973.
Until a fortnight ago Novak Djokovic had held the position since July 2014. Murray is the first player other than the Serb, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to hit top spot since Andy Roddick in 2004.
The 10 longest-serving incumbents are: Roger Federer 302 weeks, Pete Sampras 286, Ivan Lendl 270, Jimmy Connors 268, Novak Djokovic 223, John McEnroe 170; Rafael Nadal 141; Bjorn Borg 109; Andre Agassi 101; Lleyton Hewitt 80.