The Roar
The Roar

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Andy Murray is the new top dog of men's tennis

Can Andy Murray win his home Grand Slam in 2017? (Andy Couldridge/Pool Photo via AP)
Expert
5th November, 2016
12

When Canadian Milos Raonic withdrew with a leg injury from the Paris semis overnight, Andy Murray became the new world number one of men’s tennis.

He will now do battle with the former number one Novak Djokovic at the ATP World Tour finals later this month for the coveted end-of-year world ranking.

At 29 years five months and 23 days, Murray is the second oldest number one behind Australia’s John Newcombe who was 30 years and 11 days when he was crowned in June 1974.

Murray is the 26th number one since the rankings began on 23 August 1973.

Throughout his career Murray has been tabbed a Great Brit when he does something spectacular, and a Scot when he doesn’t.

So I’m going to change that description to Andy Murray is the first Scot to be world number one.

In his career-best season, Murray has won seven titles, including a second Wimbledon, a second Olympic Games gold medal, and currently a 19-match winning streak in a 73-9 win-loss record in 2016.

Very impressive.

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And to complete a unique family double, Murray’s brother Jamie was ranked world number doubles player this year for a total of nine weeks.

The 26 world number ones, with their total weeks in brackets.

USA:
Jimmy Connors (268)
John McEnroe (170)
Jim Courier (58)
Pete Sampras (216)
Andre Agassi (101)
Andy Roddick (13)

Australia:
John Newcombe (8)
Pat Rafter (1)
Lleyton Hewitt (80)

Spain:
Carlos Moya (2)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (8)
Rafael Nadal (141)

Sweden:
Bjorn Borg (109)
Mats Wilander (20)
Stefan Edberg (72)

Russia:
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (6)
Marat Safin (9)

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Austria:
Thomas Muster (6)

Brazil:
Gustavo Kuerten (43)

Chile:
Marcelo Rios (6)

Czech Republic:
Ivan Lendl (270)

Germany:
Boris Becker (12)

Romania:
Ilie Nastase (40)

Scotland:
Andy Murray (first week)

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Serbia:
Novak Djokovic (223)

Switzerland:
Roger Federer (302)

Murray is in good company, particularly considering he is competing in one of the toughest eras men’s tennis has seen.

What do you think Roarers, is Murray a deserved No. 1? And will he finish the year in that position?

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