Murray wins ATP World Tour Finals, confirmed No. 1

LONDON: Andy Murray’s spectacular rise to the top of the men’s rankings was made official on Monday with the Scot topping the end of season ATP charts on 12,685 points. Novak Djokovic, beaten by Murray in Sunday’s ATP World Tour Finals in London, must make do with ending 2016 in second on 11,780 points. Murray had climbed to world number one for the first time a fortnight ago at the Paris Masters. And he maintained his dynamic form at London’s 02 Arena with an imperious 6- 3, 6-4 victory over Djokovic to clinch his first Tour Finals. Soaking up the acclaim from a star-studded 17,000 sell out crowd including actors Jude Law, Kevin Spacey and Woody Harrelson, Murray said: “I’m very happy to win and to be world number one is very special. It’s something I never expected. “We’ve played Grand Slam finals before but it’s very special playing against Novak in a match like this.” Djokovic added: “I played better late in the match but it wasn’t enough. “Andy is definitely number one in the world. He deserved to win. He is the best player.” Murray will bank the champion’s cheque worth 914,000 pounds (USD 1.1 million, 1.06 million euros), but the financial reward pales in comparison to the sense of achievement that will accompany the tenacious Scot’s 24th consecutive victory. Ruining Djokovic’s bid to return to the top caps an incredible year for Murray, who has won Wimbledon for the second time, claimed a second Olympic gold medal and become a father for the first time. It is Murray’s fifth consecutive title and the 44th of his glittering career, and with Federer and Nadal both seemingly in decline due to injuries, the Scot will believe he can reign at the top well into 2017. For Djokovic, a strangely tame loss, featuring 30 unforced errors, will spark renewed questions about the world number two’s sudden decline. Murray’s triumph after a season which saw him win his second Wimbledon title and retain his Olympic crown stopped the Serb regaining top spot. The 29-year-old Murray is the 17th man to hold the prestigious year-end number one berth since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973. He is the first player other than Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, on the slide in ninth, to earn the honour since Andy Roddick in 2003. Milos Raonic, beaten by Murray in the semi-finals in London, ends the year in third place with Stan Wawrinka in fourth and Kei Nishikori, brushed aside by Djokovic in Saturday’s other semi, in fifth. (AFP)