Murray wins ATP Finals, ends year No.1

His season had already provided several unforgettable chapters but Andy Murray has saved the best for last in eclipsing Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to claim his first ATP World Tour Finals title.

Sunday’s win at London’s 02 Arena also rubberstamps his year-end top ranking.

Against a man who has so often been his nemesis, Britain’s golden boy produced a relentless display to claim a ninth title of a year which included a second Wimbledon crown and Olympic gold in Rio.

Murray’s play in the winner-takes-all season climax was all the more remarkable as a day earlier he looked all but exhausted after taking almost four hours to subdue Milos Raonic in the semi-final.

It would have been blow to Murray’s solar plexus if, two weeks after dislodging Djokovic from the top ranking, the Serb had ripped it back with a fifth consecutive Tour Finals title.

But his powers of recovery appeared limitless as he handed an error-prone Djokovic a bitter defeat that will be a tough pill to swallow for the 12-times major champion.

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Murray double-faulted twice in the first game and there was a wobble near the end as Djokovic mounted some late resistance but with the majority of the 17,000 fans present willing him on, Murray completed the job.

“It’s very special playing against Novak in a match like this,” Murray said. “We’ve played grand slam finals and at the Olympics before but I am very happy to win and to be world number one is very special. It is something I never expected.”

Djokovic had won 22 of his past 23 matches at the Thames-side venue but the cracks that have appeared in his game since completing a career slam by beating Murray in the French Open final returned after a trouble-free route to the final.

He made 30 unforced errors but was gracious in defeat.

“Definitely he is the number one in the world. He is the best player and deserved to win,” Djokovic said. “He played the better tennis in the decisive moments. Credit to Andy for being mentally tough.”

The fear was that the 10 hours Murray had spent on court this week, compared to Djokovic’s six and a half, would catch up with him and snap a career-best winning run of 23 matches.

Yet despite some early nerves Murray dictated the rallies with unerring length and precision.

Djokovic looked inhibited and hesitant. It took him 10 minutes to hold serve at 2-3 – a game in which he blazed one smash wildly wide from virtually over the net.

Murray was at Djokovic’s throat again at 3-4 and Djokovic buckled, dropping serve easily.

The final threatened to become a humiliation as Murray steamed into a 4-1 lead in the second set.

Djokovic gave himself a flicker of hope with a break and a hold though, and the crowd quietened a little as he began swinging dangerously, winning one hypnotic 33-stroke rally.

Two match points came and went at 5-4 but Murray’s coronation as the world’s best began when Djokovic floated a return wide on the third.

The ATP Top 10 (21.11.2016)
1. Andy Murray (GBR) 12,685
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 11,780
3. Milos Raonic (CAN) 5,450
4. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 5,315
5. Kei Nishikori (JAP) 4,905
6. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,650
7. Gael Monfils (FRA) 3,625
8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,415
9. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 3,300
10. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 3,060