TENNIS HAS A NEW TOP STAR – ANDY MURRAY BECOMES 26TH PLAYER IN HISTORY TO HOLD NO. 1 IN WORLD ATP RANKINGS

Written by: Staff on 5th November 2016

TENNIS HAS A NEW TOP STAR - ANDY MURRAY BECOMES 26TH PLAYER IN HISTORY TO HOLD NO. 1 IN WORLD ATP RANKINGS |

@andy_murray will become new World No. 1 on Monday after reaching #BNPPM final after #Raonic w/d with injury – Photo by @ATPWorldTour via Twitter.

Andy Murray and JAMIE Murray both reached number 1 in the world in 2016 – Big Congrats to the Whole Clan especially a Lady named JUDY!

5 November 2016

MURRAY BECOMES 26TH PLAYER IN HISTORY TO HOLD NO. 1 IN EMIRATES ATP RANKINGS

- Briton ends Djokovic’s reign atop Emirates ATP Rankings

LONDON – More than seven years after he first ranked No. 2, Great Britain’s Andy Murray will take over the No. 1 position in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday, replacing Novak Djokovic, who has held the top spot since 7 July 2014. Murray will now battle Djokovic for the coveted year-end No. 1 at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Murray was guaranteed to move to No. 1 for the first time as a result of reaching the BNP Paribas Masters final in Paris on Saturday. Djokovic had been No. 1 for the past 122 weeks since 7 July 2014, and 223 weeks overall. Murray, who has spent 76 weeks at No. 2 since first reaching the mark in 2009, is the first British male to rank No. 1 in the history of Emirates ATP Rankings (since 23 August 1973).

Andy Murray of Britain holds a press conference at the BNP Paribas 2016 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 05 November 2016. Murray becomes world number 1, taking Novak Djokovic’s place, after winning his semifinal match by default after Milos Roanic of Canada forfeited on injury. EPA/IAN LANGSDON

“To get to No. 1 isn’t about today, but it’s about 12 months of tournaments to get to this stage,” said Murray. “The last few months have been the best of my career and I am very proud to have reached No. 1. It has been a goal of mine for the past few years.”

On Monday, at 29 years, 5 months and 23 days, the Dunblane native will be the 26th player in the history of the Emirates ATP Rankings (since 1973) and the second-oldest player (John Newcombe, 30 years, 11 days, on 3 June 1974) to debut at No. 1 in the official rankings in men’s tennis. He is the 15th European player to rank No. 1 and owns the ATP World Tour record for most time between becoming No. 2 and No. 1, having debuted at No. 2 on 17 August 2009.

Murray is tied first with Djokovic on the ATP World Tour with a career-best seven titles in 2016, including his second Wimbledon crown and second Olympic Games gold medal. He also captured two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles (the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, Shanghai Rolex Masters). He has a 73-9 record on the season and is currently riding a 19-match winning streak.

ATP Executive Chairman & President Chris Kermode said, “Andy has shown incredible dedication, determination and hard work in his bid to get to No.1. It’s difficult to think of a player more deserving of this accolade, what is more in one of the toughest eras in the history of our sport. He has had a phenomenal season and fully deserves this latest recognition, which confirms his status as the best player in the world.”

This year, his brother, Jamie Murray, rose to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings for the first time on 4 April 2016 and held the top spot, in two stints, for a total of nine weeks.

On 8 July, Murray became the second player to qualify for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals to be held at The O2 in London from 13-20 November. It is the ninth straight year that he has qualified for the elite eight-player tournament.

Murray will receive the No. 1 trophy during the Official Launch of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the Cutty Sark, the 19th century tea clipper ship, in London on 10 November.

THE NUMBER ONES

Following is a list of the 26 players who have ranked No. 1 in the history of the Emirates ATP Rankings (since 1973):

Player	Date Reached	Age	Tot. Weeks
Andy Murray (GBR)	7 November 2016	29	1
Novak Djokovic (SRB)	4 July 2011	24	223
Rafael Nadal (ESP)	18 August 2008	22	141
Roger Federer (SUI)	2 February 2004	22	302
Andy Roddick (USA)	3 November 2003	21	13
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)	8 September 2003	23	8
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)	19 November 2001	20	80
Gustavo Kuerten (BRA)	4 December 2000	24	43
Marat Safin (RUS)	20 November 2000	20	9
Patrick Rafter (AUS)	26 July 1999	26	1
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS)	3 May 1999	25	6
Carlos Moya (ESP)	15 March 1999	22	2
Marcelo Rios (CHI)	30 March 1998	22	6
Thomas Muster (AUT)	12 February 1996	28	6
Andre Agassi (USA)	10 April 1995	24	101
Pete Sampras (USA)	12 April 1993	21	286
Jim Courier (USA)	10 February 1992	21	58
Boris Becker (GER)	28 January 1991	23	12
Stefan Edberg (SWE)	13 August 1990	24	72
Mats Wilander (SWE)	12 September 1988	24	20
Ivan Lendl (CZE)	28 February 1983	22	270
John McEnroe (USA)	3 March 1980	21	170
Bjorn Borg (SWE)	23 August 1977	21	109
Jimmy Connors (USA)	29 July 1974	21	268
John Newcombe (AUS)	3 June 1974	30	8
Ilie Nastase (ROM)	23 August 1973	27	40

COUNTRIES AT NO. 1

Murray is the 26th player to hold No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973) and he is the first male player from Great Britain to hold the top position. Following is a breakdown of the 14 countries at No. 1:

Country	No.	Players
United States	6	Connors, McEnroe, Courier, Sampras, Agassi, Roddick
Australia	3	Newcombe, Rafter, Hewitt
Spain	3	Moya, Ferrero, Nadal
Sweden	3	Borg, Wilander, Edberg
Russia	2	Kafelnikov, Safin
Austria	1	Muster
Brazil	1	Kuerten
Chile	1	Rios
Czech Republic	1	Lendl
Germany	1	Becker
Great Britain	1	Murray
Romania	1	Nastase
Serbia	1	Djokovic
Switzerland	1	Federer

10sBalls Editors Note: Our bags are getting packed. The excitement is building. We leave for London in days. We are all celebrating the year end championships in our favorite city of London. Really. Who doesn’t love London. Anyway we are a group of 5 this year. All the usuals Lovey, Frankie, Ricky, and a few surprises. The rooms are scarce.. Ask Peter whose our new roommate…. The rides up the Thames are memorable. Everyone of them for some reason. Top favs that come to mind Andy Murray and his team discussing how long it might take to jump ship and reach the shore…. Or the ride with Dusan Vemic in 2012, or KT ride last year with RAFA. Or Pancho’s ride with Lovey the first time. Or the rides late at night with Charlie Fox … We are thrilled to be going to the best tennis event/ party of the season once again. We are Most excited by the team of Max the BEAST from Belarus Mirnyi and Treat Huey of the Philippines.. They just eeked in … This will be Treats first year end finals. For Max his 10th! Max was close a few other years and a few other years partners couldn’t finish the year. The doubles at the year end finals has been the most exciting part of the event for years!

About The ATP

The ATP is the governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuits – the ATP World Tour, the ATP Challenger Tour and the ATP Champions Tour. With 62 tournaments in 32 countries, the ATP World Tour showcases the finest male athletes competing in the world’s most exciting venues. From Australia to Europe and the Americas to Asia, the stars of the 2016 ATP World Tour will battle for prestigious titles and Emirates ATP Rankings points at ATP World Tour Masters 1000, 500 and 250 events, as well as Grand Slams (non ATP events). At the end of the season only the world’s top 8 qualified singles players and doubles teams will qualify to compete for the last title of the season at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Held at The O2 in London, the event will officially crown the 2016 ATP World Tour No. 1 presented by Emirates. For more information, please visit www.ATPWorldTour.com.

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