Andy Murray's latest title reminded us that he is not No. 1 on rankings points alone. He is the alpha male of the world tour, the opponent no-one wants to face. On the eve of his official elevation to the top spot, Murray was irresistible in the Paris Masters final against John Isner, who played at a high level but still came away a 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 loser.
The manner in which Murray overhauled his great rival Novak Djokovic had been slightly anti-climactic. It was confirmed on Saturday without a ball being struck, via a walkover against his intended semi-final opponent Milos Raonic. Had Murray then lost to Isner, the circumstances would have been doubly underwhelming. Instead he continued the golden run that had carried him through Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna, securing a 19th successive victory.
The Murray team ate together in celebration on Saturday night, but this was nothing like the nightclub party that followed his Wimbledon triumph in July. He knew there was plenty at stake on Sunday. This was the first time that he had claimed the Paris Masters trophy - a spidery tree sculpture which exhibits the name of each champion on a different branch - and also the first time he had won four tournaments in a row.
What is more, Murray's victory earned him 400 extra rankings points that will give him a lead of 405 over Novak Djokovic when the new table is published tomorrow. This cushion is significant because Murray will lose his Davis Cup points from 2015 before the end of the year. In practical terms, the Paris title means that he only needs to match whatever Djokovic does at next week’s ATP World Tour Finals to finish the season as No. 1.
The Murray team ate together in celebration on Saturday night, but this was nothing like the nightclub party that followed his Wimbledon triumph in July. He knew there was plenty at stake on Sunday. This was the first time that he had claimed the Paris Masters trophy - a spidery tree sculpture which exhibits the name of each champion on a different branch - and also the first time he had won four tournaments in a row.
What is more, Murray's victory earned him 400 extra rankings points that will give him a lead of 405 over Novak Djokovic when the new table is published tomorrow. This cushion is significant because Murray will lose his Davis Cup points from 2015 before the end of the year. In practical terms, the Paris title means that he only needs to match whatever Djokovic does at next week’s ATP World Tour Finals to finish the season as No. 1.
Before the final, it was hard to know how the aftermath of Saturday's confirmation - and the consequent release of tension - might affect Murray. But he was dialled-in from first point to last. "Sometimes after you achieve something big or something that you maybe didn't expect, it can be quite easy to have a letdown and feel a little bit flat,” he said afterwards. “But I was really up for the match and really wanted to try and win today. I didn't feel like my work this week was done.
“I was really happy about that, and hopefully I will feel the same way going into the Tour Finals, as well. I'm sure I will, because you're competing against the best players in front of a big crowd there.”
Isner will not be among the seven elite players who will try to halt the Murray train at the O2 Arena. His year has been too patchy for that. Still, he struck some pulverising forehands, and served with a sniper’s accuracy as well as ferocious speed. On this slick court, front-row spectators would have been well advised to wear protective headgear.
Murray's reflexes had to be at their sharpest as he bunted returns towards the feet of the onrushing Isner. For a 6ft 10in lamppost, half-volleys are almost an anatomical impossibility. The pressure told as Isner dropped his serve in the first and third sets while never claiming a break of his own. In eight meetings with Murray, he has now created 39 break-point opportunities and converted only one.
“On the scoreboard it looks pretty close, but he was the better player in the third set,” said an admiring Isner afterwards. “He's the guy that everyone is looking up to right now. He'll be the favourite going into Melbourne.”
The same goes for the ATP World Tour Finals, for which the draw will be held tomorrow. The fans will bemoan the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. But as long as Djokovic can cope with the painful right arm that has dogged him all autumn, his ongoing rankings battle with Murray should give the tournament an edge it has lacked for the last couple of years.
Before that, Murray will have a few days' rest before his head coach Ivan Lendl flies into London on Wednesday. He will also have a chance to answer the messages which piled up on his phone over the whole weekend – “more of them,” he said, “than I've had after any match I have played in my life.” The tennis family offered its congratulations via Twitter, but it was his real family whose support was most important to him.
Before that, Murray will have a few days' rest before his head coach Ivan Lendl flies into London on Wednesday. He will also have a chance to answer the messages which piled up on his phone over the whole weekend – “more of them,” he said, “than I've had after any match I have played in my life.” The tennis family offered its congratulations via Twitter, but it was his real family whose support was most important to him.
No comments:
Post a Comment