From the ATP:
(November 5, 2016) LONDON – More than seven years after he first ranked No. 2, Great Britain’s Andy Murray will take over the No. 1 position in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday, replacing Novak Djokovic, who has held the top spot since 7 July 2014. Murray will now battle Djokovic for the coveted year-end No. 1 at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
Murray was guaranteed to move to No. 1 for the first time as a result of reaching the BNP Paribas Masters final in Paris on Saturday. Djokovic had been No. 1 for the past 122 weeks since 7 July 2014, and 223 weeks overall. Murray, who has spent 76 weeks at No. 2 since first reaching the mark in 2009, is the first British male to rank No. 1 in the history of Emirates ATP Rankings (since 23 August 1973).
“To get to No. 1 isn’t about today, but it’s about 12 months of tournaments to get to this stage,” said Murray. “The last few months have been the best of my career and I am very proud to have reached No. 1. It has been a goal of mine for the past few years.”
On Monday, at 29 years, 5 months and 23 days, the Dunblane native will be the 26th player in the history of the Emirates ATP Rankings (since 1973) and the second-oldest player (John Newcombe, 30 years, 11 days, on 3 June 1974) to debut at No. 1 in the official rankings in men’s tennis. He is the 15th European player to rank No. 1 and owns the ATP World Tour record for most time between becoming No. 2 and No. 1, having debuted at No. 2 on 17 August 2009.
Murray is tied first with Djokovic on the ATP World Tour with a career-best seven titles in 2016, including his second Wimbledon crown and second Olympic Games gold medal. He also captured two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles (the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, Shanghai Rolex Masters). He has a 73-9 record on the season and is currently riding a 19-match winning streak.
ATP Executive Chairman & President Chris Kermode said, “Andy has shown incredible dedication, determination and hard work in his bid to get to No.1. It’s difficult to think of a player more deserving of this accolade, what is more in one of the toughest eras in the history of our sport. He has had a phenomenal season and fully deserves this latest recognition, which confirms his status as the best player in the world.”
This year, his brother, Jamie Murray, rose to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings for the first time on 4 April 2016 and held the top spot, in two stints, for a total of nine weeks.
On 8 July, Murray became the second player to qualify for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals to be held at The O2 in London from 13-20 November. It is the ninth straight year that he has qualified for the elite eight-player tournament.
Murray will receive the No. 1 trophy during the Official Launch of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the Cutty Sark, the 19th century tea clipper ship, in London on 10 November.
THE NUMBER ONES
Following is a list of the 26 players who have ranked No. 1 in the history of the Emirates ATP Rankings (since 1973):
| Player | Date Reached | Age | Tot. Weeks |
| Andy Murray (GBR) | 7 November 2016 | 29 | 1 |
| Novak Djokovic (SRB) | 4 July 2011 | 24 | 223 |
| Rafael Nadal (ESP) | 18 August 2008 | 22 | 141 |
| Roger Federer (SUI) | 2 February 2004 | 22 | 302 |
| Andy Roddick (USA) | 3 November 2003 | 21 | 13 |
| Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) | 8 September 2003 | 23 | 8 |
| Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) | 19 November 2001 | 20 | 80 |
| Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) | 4 December 2000 | 24 | 43 |
| Marat Safin (RUS) | 20 November 2000 | 20 | 9 |
| Patrick Rafter (AUS) | 26 July 1999 | 26 | 1 |
| Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) | 3 May 1999 | 25 | 6 |
| Carlos Moya (ESP) | 15 March 1999 | 22 | 2 |
| Marcelo Rios (CHI) | 30 March 1998 | 22 | 6 |
| Thomas Muster (AUT) | 12 February 1996 | 28 | 6 |
| Andre Agassi (USA) | 10 April 1995 | 24 | 101 |
| Pete Sampras (USA) | 12 April 1993 | 21 | 286 |
| Jim Courier (USA) | 10 February 1992 | 21 | 58 |
| Boris Becker (GER) | 28 January 1991 | 23 | 12 |
| Stefan Edberg (SWE) | 13 August 1990 | 24 | 72 |
| Mats Wilander (SWE) | 12 September 1988 | 24 | 20 |
| Ivan Lendl (CZE) | 28 February 1983 | 22 | 270 |
| John McEnroe (USA) | 3 March 1980 | 21 | 170 |
| Bjorn Borg (SWE) | 23 August 1977 | 21 | 109 |
| Jimmy Connors (USA) | 29 July 1974 | 21 | 268 |
| John Newcombe (AUS) | 3 June 1974 | 30 | 8 |
| Ilie Nastase (ROM) | 23 August 1973 | 27 | 40 |
COUNTRIES AT NO. 1
Murray is the 26th player to hold No. 1 in the history of the Emirates ATP Rankings (since 1973) and he is the first male player from Great Britain to hold the top position. Following is a breakdown of the 14 countries at No. 1:
| Country | No. | Players |
| United States | 6 | Connors, McEnroe, Courier, Sampras, Agassi, Roddick |
| Australia | 3 | Newcombe, Rafter, Hewitt |
| Spain | 3 | Moya, Ferrero, Nadal |
| Sweden | 3 | Borg, Wilander, Edberg |
| Russia | 2 | Kafelnikov, Safin |
| Austria | 1 | Muster |
| Brazil | 1 | Kuerten |
| Chile | 1 | Rios |
| Czech Republic | 1 | Lendl |
| Germany | 1 | Becker |
| Great Britain | 1 | Murray |
| Romania | 1 | Nastase |
| Serbia | 1 | Djokovic |
| Switzerland | 1 | Federer |
ATP World Tour 1000 € 3,748,925 (€ 4,300,755 Total Financial Commitment)
Paris, France (+1 hours GMT)
31 October – 6 November 2016 Surface: Indoor hard
BNP Paribas Masters
Paris, France
RESULTS – SATURDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2016
Singles – Semi-finals
[2] A. Murray (GBR) d [4] M. Raonic (CAN) w.o. (right leg)
J. Isner (USA) d [9] M. Cilic (CRO) 64 63
Doubles – Semi-finals
[1] P. Herbert (FRA) / N. Mahut (FRA) d [8] R. Bopanna (IND) / D. Nestor (CAN) 64 36 10-6
H. Kontinen (FIN) / J. Peers (AUS) d [6] M. Melo (BRA) / V. Pospisil (CAN) 64 64
SCHEDULE – SUNDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 2016
COURT CENTRAL start 12:15
DOUBLES FINAL – [1] P. Herbert (FRA) / N. Mahut (FRA) vs H. Kontinen (FIN) / J. Peers (AUS)
Not Before 15:00
SINGLES FINAL – J. Isner (USA) vs [2] A. Murray (GBR)