RICKY DIMON RUNS A MARATHON AND MARIN CILIC SURGES IN RACE TO LONDON WITH BASEL TITLE, ANDY MURRAY CONTINUES MARCH TO TOP RANKING

Written by: Staff on 30th October 2016

RICKY DIMON RUNS A MARATHON AND MARIN CILIC SURGES IN RACE TO LONDON WITH BASEL TITLE, ANDY MURRAY CONTINUES MARCH TO TOP RANKING |

Andy Murray has a very realistic chance of becoming No. 1 in the world at the end of next week’s BNP Paribas Masters in Paris-Bercy. That much became a reality on Sunday, when Murray added 500 points to his total by beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6(6) in the Erste Bank Open title match.

Murray is now just 415 points south of Djokovic in the 2016 race to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals thanks to winning a title for the sixth time in his last eight events. The second-ranked Scot is still 1,915 points behind Djokovic in the rankings, but the Serb’s points from last year’s triumph at the World Tour Finals come off after Paris. Murray can become No. 1 if he wins Paris and beats someone other than Djokovic in the final. He can also reach the top spot if he advances to the final and Djokovic falls prior to the semis.

“I think I played my best tennis today of the tournament,” Murray said after Sunday’s Vienna final. “Jo fought well and started playing a lot better (in the second set). He was more aggressive and taking some more chances and making the shots.”

“I’m really happy with my week,” Tsonga assured. “I played good tennis. I fought until the end, and that’s most important for me. It was nice to play five matches in a row like this.”

Tsonga can still qualify for London if he lifts the Paris trophy, while Marin Cilic improved his London standing in a significant way by winning the Swiss Indoors Basel on Sunday afternoon. Cilic held all 10 of his service games to get the job done after one hour and 37 minutes.

After getting blown out in the opener, Nishikori managed to be competitive in the second. In fact, the world No. 4 even saw three set points–his only break points of the day–with Cilic serving at 4-5. Cilic eventually held, played his way into a tiebreaker, and clinched the win when Nishikori double-faulted at 5-6.

“I knew it was going to be important for me to start well,” the Croat commented. “Obviously it was a big match for me. Being in the final of a 500 tournament against someone like Kei, who has been playing good tennis during the week, I knew it was going to be important to have energy straight away. I was playing well in the first set with my shot-making, and I was serving smart. I felt that even during most of the second set I was playing well and creating opportunities for myself.”

“It was a good week for me, playing another final,” Nishikori said. “I had some good wins. It will be important to have another good week in Paris and again in London. That will be my last goal of the year.”

Top 8 not including Nadal, heading into Paris

1. Novak Djokovic – 10,610 points. Last week: Did not play.

2. Andy Murray – 10,195 points. Last week: Vienna semifinals.

3. Stan Wawrinka – 5,115 points. Last week: Lost in Basel quarterfinals.

4. Milos Raonic – 4,700 points. Last week: Lost in Basel first round.

5. Kei Nishikori – 4,625 points. Last week: Lost in Basel final.

6. Gael Monfils – 3,625 points. Last week: Did not play. This week: Not playing.

7. Dominic Thiem – 3,215 points. Last week: Lost in Vienna second round.

8. Tomas Berdych – 2,890 points. Last week: Lost in Vienna first round.

Next 4 contenders

9. Marin Cilic – 3,100 points. Last week: Won Basel title.

10. David Goffin – 2,700 points. Last week: Lost in Basel second round.