Andy Murray wins Paris Masters to celebrate world number one status
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Updated 06/11/2016 at 19:24 GMT
Andy Murray topped off a week that saw him named as the world number one for the first time with victory over John Isner in the final of the Paris Masters, winning 6-3 6-7 6-4.
Britain's Andy Murray poses with his trophy on the podium after winning the final tennis match against USA's John Isner
Image credit: Reuters
The Briton, who will take over from Novak Djokovic at the top of the ATP rankings on Monday, survived a barrage of aces against the towering American to win his 14th career Masters tournament.
The three-times grand slam champion gave little breathing space to Isner, who was hoping to clinch his first Masters title after two lost finals.
Murray will be the top seed at the season-ending ATP World Tour finals at the O2 Arena in London from Nov. 13-20.
"Thanks to my team and my family who were commenting back home. This has been an incredible journey for me to get to the top of the rankings, I could have not done it without all of you," said Murray.
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Murray: I've never had such a consistent year
The double Olympic champion entered the contest with a 7-0 record against Isner and his recent form, which had helped him to win six of his eight previous tournaments since losing the French Open final, suggested he would have the upper hand.
Murray, who now has 43 titles to his name, broke in the sixth game on his first opportunity when Isner sent a backhand long.
The American, who served a total of 18 aces, had two chances to break back in the following game as he opened up a 40-15 lead.
Murray saved the first with a routine volley after managing to lob his 2.08-metre opponent, and forced Isner to bury a backhand into the net on the second.
He bagged the opening set with an unreturned serve having made only four unforced errors.
Isner earned three break points thanks to a splendid drop shot followed by a forehand winner. Murray saved them all, the last one with a second-serve ace, and staved off another one to stay level.
In the tiebreak, Isner went 4-2 up when Murray double faulted, and the American closed it out with a booming forehand winner to send the contest into a decider.
Both players looked clumsy but it was Murray who played a tighter game in the end, ending the contest on his first match point when Isner netted a backhand volley.
"I felt really nervous before the match, I didn't feel flat, or anything like that, that was the most pleasing thing about today for me," Murray explained afterwards.
"Obviously it's great to win, but 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.
"I felt really nervous before the match today, and I was happy about that."
Murray, who has yet to win the Australian Open and the French Open, struggled to look past the World Tour Finals although winning in Melbourne is the next step for the double Olympic champion.
"I have no idea what place I'm going to be in five or six months' time," said the 29-year-old, who has finished runner-up at Melbourne Park on five occasions.
"But obviously I'd love to win the Australian Open because it's sort of the next major goal, beginning of next year, because I have been close a number of times and I have never quite done it. Obviously I'd love to try and win that."
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