Andy Murray Rises to World Number One

Andy Murray Rises to World Number One

Andy Murray has taken over the world no 1 spot for the first time after Milos Raonic pulled out of their Paris Masters semifinal with a leg injury on Saturday.

The 29-year-old becomes the first Briton to achieve the feat since computerized ranking began in 1973.

Murray, who usurps longtime rival Novak Djokovic at the top when the rankings are updated on Monday, has reached 11 finals in his past 12 events, and has won 73 matches in the year, a personal record.

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“Yesterday as I led 4-2 in the first set I started feeling some pain in my leg,” fourth-seeded Canadian Raonic told a news conference, referring to his match with Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

“I didn’t think too much of it at that point. I had an MRI half an hour ago…they found that I have a grade one tear in the right quadriceps.”

Raonic, 26, is now doubtful for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals to be held in London from November 13-20.

“I still have the possibility of making it but I was told five to 10 days so I’m on the borderline,” he said.

At 29 years and 174 days, he will be the oldest player to reach the summit for the first time since John Newcombe in 1974.

Djokovic, who was number 1 for 122 weeks, was knocked out in the quarterfinals by ninth seed Marin Cilic on Friday.

However, the Croat was beaten 6-4 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday by American John Isner to set up a final showdown against Murray Sunday.