Murray and Number One

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 24th August 2013

Murray and Number One

epa03827566 Andy Murray, of Great Britain, reacts to losing a point against Tomas Berdych, of The Czech Republic, during the quarter-final round of the ATP Masters in Mason, Ohio, USA, on 16 August 2013. Berdych won 6-3, 6-4. EPA/Mark Lyons |

Andy Murray’s ex-mentor Emilio Sanchez, who ran the Barcelona academy where the once-scrawny Scot learned the game after transferring from the chill of his native Scotland as a teenager – is urging the US Open champion to fight for the No. 1 ranking.

The former top 10 Spaniard told the Herald newspaper in Scotland that No. 3 Murray, last month’s Wimbledon winner, should make topping the ATP ranking his next major objective.

“The next goal for him to get to No.1 in the rankings. Now he has won Wimbledon, it should take the pressure off him to succeed and perhaps allow him to enjoy it more. But he still has to find motivation. He is always very determined and professional, but to win more Grand Slams he needs to come back with the same kind of attitude and determination that he showed to win his previous two Grand Slams.

“There are always going to be other people who want to take his place. So we will see how it goes at the US Open. It is coming up to the end of the year, people are getting tired, and it is a difficult tournament to win. But the one who manages to win will be in a very good position to go on and dominate.”

Sanchez, member of a Spanish tennis family dynasty as brother to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, added: “It’s very difficult to say what is a realistic target for him in terms of slams. He has already won two slams, two very good ones, in the US Open and Wimbledon.

“He in a good position to challenge for more. But it is not as simple as to say that because you have won two, you are going to win more. It looks like a very good project for him to go on and win more but there are only four Grand Slams a season and you can only tell as time goes on.” Murray was dropped from second behind Novak Djokovic to third as Rafael Nasal won the Cincinnati title.

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