Murray ends season as No. 1, beats Djokovic at ATP finals

Novak Djokovic said last night that he gave himself “no serious chance to win” after losing to Andy Murray in straight sets in the final of the ATP World Tour Finals in London to surrender possession of the year-end No 1 ranking for the first time since 2013. “It was obviously a big match, a very important win for me”, said Murray, who had to save a match point in a marathon semi-final defeat of Milos Raonic.

Shortly after Murray had triumphed in his semi-final against Milos Raonic, the longest match ever seen at the championships, defending champion Djokovic steamed past the lackluster Japanese in little more than an hour, hardly breaking sweat.

“No party tonight”, said Murray.

Murray entered the clash with an 8-3 head 2 head record against Raonic, who has lost the past seven meetings against the Briton, including five this season.

“I was quite far behind obviously in the second set”.

The world number five’s level dipped at the start of the second set and Murray broke, only to hand back the advantage as an inspired Nishikori levelled at 4-4 with a fizzing backhand. “These are the sort of matches you work so hard for”. For while he may have set his sights on a Grand Slam title this year, and fell short by one match at Wimbledon, this has been a year of steady and determined improvement-in his athleticism, fitness, coaching team and more.

Murray had never beaten the man he first played in junior tennis almost 20 years ago from a set down, losing all 19 matches, so the early advantage was crucial.

Raonic twice broke Murray when he served for the match and saved three match points but could not take his solitary chance in a remarkable deciding tie-break.

But his powers of recovery appear limitless as he handed an error-prone Djokovic a bitter defeat that will leave a sour taste in the 12-times major champion’s mouth as a new season swings into action in a few weeks.

Djokovic has been in a prolonged slump since winning the French Open for the first time in June, sparking rumours about his private life and questions about his recent involvement with a “spiritual guru”.

It was a career-best 23rd straight win for Murray, who isn’t letting go of the No. 1 ranking without a fight. A set and a break down, I managed to turn it round.

“It’s been going in the right direction and I am very glad that I get to experience this feeling on the court”, he said in an on-court interview after the match.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia wies thesweat of his face during the ATP World Tour Finals singles final tennis match against Andy Murray of Britain at the O2 Arena in London, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016.

“I’m really privileged and obviously honored to be a part of the history tomorrow with Andy, we have known each other for so many years”, Djokovic said. “Now it’s coming up to the last match of the year, the match everybody anticipated”. Great highlights, especially in the first six months of the year. “I’ll give it my best effort, the best of what I have”.