Advertisement

Andy Murray becomes No. 1 after Milos Raonic withdraws at Paris Masters

By The Sports Xchange
Andy Murray, of Great Britain. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI
Andy Murray, of Great Britain. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo

Andy Murray will wake up Monday morning with a No. 1 ranking and did not even have to break a sweat.

Murray advanced to the Paris Masters final without playing a single point Saturday when Milos Raonic withdrew with the tournament.

Advertisement

Raonic withdrew about an hour before the match due to a right leg injury suffered during a quarterfinal win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Raonic said an MRI showed a Grade 1 tear of his right quad.

"I'm sure on Monday I'll feel good," Murray said. But I'm not sure this is right in the rules, but if I get defaulted in the match tomorrow, I don't think I get the points from this week. So I need to make sure I'm on my best behavior, keep my racket in my hands, and all will be well on Monday."

Even Roger Federer weighed in on social media. Federer held the top spot for a record 237 straight weeks and 302 weeks overall and tweeted: "We have a new king in town. Congrats sir @andy_murray."

After Novak Djokovic lost in the quarterfinals on Friday, Murray needed to qualify for the final in Paris to get the top spot when the ATP Rankings are released Monday. The 29-year-old Murray is assured of holding at least five-point lead over Djokovic.

Advertisement

Murray will face American John Isner in Sunday's final. Isner advanced by getting 18 aces in a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Marin Cilic.

Regardless of Sunday's outcome, Murray will hold the top spot and will become the first Briton to hold it. He will be the oldest first-time No. 1 since John Newcombe was 30 in 1974.

Murray has spent 76 weeks at No. 2. He first reached the second spot in 2009 and two years later, Murray hired Ivan Lendl to coach him.

In 2012, Murray won the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in London. The following year, he became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years.

In 2014, Murray replaced Lendl with Amelie Mauresmo, but although he climbed up the rankings after back surgery, Murray went back to Lendl this past May after losing to Djokovic in the French Open final.

Murray claimed a second Wimbledon title and second gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He is 46-3 since rehiring Lendl.

Latest Headlines