Will Andy Murray Back Up His Desire To Take the No. 1 Ranking?
Andy Murray has spent a decade chasing after three of the biggest legends in tennis history. They were the exclusive triumvirate, winning gluts of Grand Slam titles and keeping special guard over their rights to the No. 1 ranking.
Ten years ago, young Murray and everyone else in the world outside of Mallorca was in awe of Roger Federer’s explosive all-courts game, his fluid forehand and attacking style. Murray was never going to develop these offensive gifts and go on to 17 major titles.
Then it was Rafael Nadal’s turn to hammer the tour into submission with heavy topspin, defensive aggression and the most commanding clay-court dominance of all time. Murray didn’t win a single title on clay until 2015.
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Four months ago, Murray was being overwhelmed in the Age of King Novak. Djokovic was about 8,000 points ahead in the ATP rankings, and it might as well have been eight million. While the Serb held the non-calendar-year Grand Slam with all four major titles, Murray had not won a major in nearly three years.
To suggest Murray could challenge Djokovic for No. 1 would be like placing bets that the Black Knight in Monty Python could defeat King Arthur in a rematch.
But the landscape has shifted overnight. While Djokovic has struggled to stay healthy and win big matches, Murray swooped in for the Wimbledon title, Olympic singles gold medal and a redoubtable spirit that has him believing he can track down that No. 1 ranking.
Rising Quotable Confidence
When Murray defeated Djokovic for the 2013 Wimbledon title, he all but dismissed any chance at No. 1, as archived in Fox Sports: “I'm nowhere near being No. 1. I would rather not get to No. 1 and win more Grand Slams than never win another Grand Slam and get to No. 1. I'd rather try to win more Slams."
Three years and zero major titles later included back surgery, an eight-match losing streak to Djokovic and three Grand Slam final defeats to his superior rival.
Three years have also hardened Murray into a more versatile winner. He’s won Madrid, Rome and the 2015 Davis Cup final on clay. He’s the French Open runner-up, and he’s been reunited with coach Ivan Lendl, who helped guide him through his glory streak a few years ago. The aging and injuries to Federer and Nadal are at least significant factors, even if only to remove the ghosts of their legendary dominance.
Murray sang a different tune when asked about the No. 1 ranking following his second Wimbledon title three months ago, as explained in the Guardian:
"It’s definitely a goal. Before when I won here (2013), I was genuinely motivated solely really by the Slams. I think my results for the rest of the tournaments showed that—whereas now I feel a lot more motivated throughout the whole year and at all of the events."
If Murray had been reluctant in the past to talk about No. 1, he was more transparent about what it would mean when he admitted his desire to the Madrid Masters media, as reported in Eurosport two months before his latest Wimbledon title:
"It would be incredible to reach the top of my sport. It's something you dream about since you were a child. My brother just got himself up to No. 1 in doubles, and it would be incredible to say we both reached the top position during our careers."
Murray is playing in Beijing, and Djokovic is sitting out with an injured elbow. He’s sliced 6,000 points off that deficit following the French Open, and he’s never been closer to planting his banner on Mt. Olympus.
"I think, obviously, trying to reach No. 1 is a goal,” he said, per Tennis.com, a few days ago. "I've never been there. It's something I would like to do for the first time, which is maybe more of a motivation for me than some of the guys that have been there before."
Furious Charge Needed
Murray must take advantage of Djokovic’s recent struggles with injuries and form. The Serb has slowed down since summer, but he still has two major titles, four Masters 1,000 titles and a Doha shellacking over Nadal.
Murray is trying to sneak up on the No. 1 ranking despite only winning titles at Wimbledon, Rome, Queen’s Club and the Olympics. He might need to sweep Beijing, Shanghai, Paris and the ATP World Tour Finals or at least claim two of the first three and go deep at London’s WTF.
More likely, he can expect at least a gallant comeback from Djokovic to close out his year-end No. 1 ranking and extend his No. 1 streak that has racked up 118 weeks in a row thus far.
The case for Murray begins and ends with his unquestionable resilience. Can he outlast his Big Three rivals by staying healthy the next several months? Will he close out the likes of Stan Wawrinka and young up-and-coming threats like Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Nick Kyrgios?
If Murray can’t get No. 1 by early November, he’s probably going to have to win the 2017 Australian Open, or win Indian Wells and Miami or win the French Open. You get the idea. It means he needs an epic Murray streak that will leave no doubt he has arrived as the best player on the planet.
The window is open, but Murray wants to break down the walls.
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