By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, November 5, 2016
Andy Murray will succeed Novak Djokovic as new world No. 1. The second-ranked Murray advanced to the Paris Masters final on a walkover from Milos Raonic.
Photo credit: Corinne Dubreuil/FFT
After 76 weeks as world No. 2, Andy Murray is second to none.
A walkover win vaulted Murray into the Paris Masters final and past Novak Djokovic for the world No. 1 ranking.
More: Cilic Shocks Djokovic, Murray Moves Closer to No. 1
The Wimbledon champion will officially displace Djokovic and assume the top spot when the new ATP rankings are released on Monday.
The 29-year-old Murray is the first Briton to hold the singles world No. 1 ranking and the second man in his family to ascend to No. 1.
Older brother Jamie Murray reached the world No. 1 doubles ranking on April 4th and held that spot for nine weeks becoming the first British man to top the tennis rankings in singles or doubles.
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Andy Murray is the 26th man in the history of the ATP rankings to rise to the top and is the second-oldest man to debut at No. 1. Australian Hall of Famer John Newcombe was 30 when he attained the top spot on June 3, 1974.
Murray ascended to No. 1 without striking a shot today as scheduled semifinal opponent Milos Raonic withdrew after suffering a tear in his right quadriceps muscle during his 6-2, 7-6 (4) quarterfinal victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday night.
"Yesterday at 4-2 in the first set I started feeling some pain in my leg; I didn't think too much of it," Raonic told the media in Paris. "This morning I did some tests and and MRI. They found I have a grade one tear in the right quad so unfortunately I'm not able to compete against Andy in the second semifinal."
The walkover win sends Murray into tomorrow's final against John Isner.. The ATP ace leader ripped 18 aces and throttled through four games in a row overwhelming Marin Cilic, 6-4, 6-3, to reach his first Paris final.
Murray rides a 19-match winning streak into the final as he aims for his eighth title of the season. Murray has won all seven prior meetings with Isner, including a 6-1, 6-3, quarterfinal thrashing en route to the Vienna title last week.