Congratulations to Andy Murray for achieving the world #1 ranking today!
This really has been Andy's year. After losing to Novak Djokovic in the finals of both the Australian Open and the French Open, he went on the win Wimbledon (his second), the Olympic gold medal (also his second) and he just won the last four tournaments he has played including two ATP Masters 1000 events (Shanghai and Paris). This 19-match winning streak in the second half of the year helped him move past Novak Djokovic at the top of the ATP rankings.
While I am still a Nadal fan, I am happy that Andy Murray has achieved the number 1 ranking and has had the success he's had this year. At 29 years old, he is the oldest first-time number one player since John Newcombe who became #1 for the first time in 1974 at the age of 30. He is also the first British player to be ranked #1 since the start of the computerized rankings in 1973. Andy first got to the #2 ranking in 2009 and he had been ranked #2 for a total of 76 weeks over the last seven years. Given that he is playing in the era of three of the greatest players of all time - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic - Andy has had to deal with a lot of heartbreak, often at the hands of one of the Big Three. It's been a very long road and difficult for him so seeing arrive at the pinnacle of his sport is gratifying and sends the message that you really need to put in a lot of hard work to achieve grand success.
It is important to note though that the year-end number 1 ranking is not secured. Novak Djokovic can still return to the top of the tennis world depending on the results of the ATP World Finals which will be held in London from November 13 to 20. It doesn't help too that Andy Murray will lose 275 points in November due to his Davis Cups points from last year coming off on November 28. Still, the year-end number #1 ranking is really up for grabs. Whatever happens though, Andy Murray can always say that he was ranked #1 in the world, even if it was for just a moment. I do hope he ends the year #1 though; it would be nice to have a first-time #1 player in both men's and women's tennis (Angelique Kerber ended the year ranked #1).
#MondayMotivation 👏🏻 There's a new No.1 in the @emirates #ATP Rankings. ICYMI - Read Tribute: https://t.co/Vbp0dCXamt pic.twitter.com/FYXPifFEhr— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) November 7, 2016
This really has been Andy's year. After losing to Novak Djokovic in the finals of both the Australian Open and the French Open, he went on the win Wimbledon (his second), the Olympic gold medal (also his second) and he just won the last four tournaments he has played including two ATP Masters 1000 events (Shanghai and Paris). This 19-match winning streak in the second half of the year helped him move past Novak Djokovic at the top of the ATP rankings.
Feb - First child is born— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) November 5, 2016
July - Wins 2nd Wimbledon title
August - Wins 2nd Olympic gold
Nov - World No.1
What a year for @andy_murray 👏 pic.twitter.com/KYmZWNt6BT
While I am still a Nadal fan, I am happy that Andy Murray has achieved the number 1 ranking and has had the success he's had this year. At 29 years old, he is the oldest first-time number one player since John Newcombe who became #1 for the first time in 1974 at the age of 30. He is also the first British player to be ranked #1 since the start of the computerized rankings in 1973. Andy first got to the #2 ranking in 2009 and he had been ranked #2 for a total of 76 weeks over the last seven years. Given that he is playing in the era of three of the greatest players of all time - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic - Andy has had to deal with a lot of heartbreak, often at the hands of one of the Big Three. It's been a very long road and difficult for him so seeing arrive at the pinnacle of his sport is gratifying and sends the message that you really need to put in a lot of hard work to achieve grand success.
It is important to note though that the year-end number 1 ranking is not secured. Novak Djokovic can still return to the top of the tennis world depending on the results of the ATP World Finals which will be held in London from November 13 to 20. It doesn't help too that Andy Murray will lose 275 points in November due to his Davis Cups points from last year coming off on November 28. Still, the year-end number #1 ranking is really up for grabs. Whatever happens though, Andy Murray can always say that he was ranked #1 in the world, even if it was for just a moment. I do hope he ends the year #1 though; it would be nice to have a first-time #1 player in both men's and women's tennis (Angelique Kerber ended the year ranked #1).
Congratulations, Andy!
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