Murray caps rise to number one with Paris title

AFP, PARIS: Andy Murray celebrated his new world number one ranking with a first Paris Masters title on Sunday after defeating American John Isner 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 in the final.
Murray, 29, replaces Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings on Monday and claimed his eighth title of a remarkable season after extending his winning run to 19 matches.
“This has been an incredible journey for me to get to the top of the rankings,” said Murray, who will move 405 points above long-time rival Djokovic.
“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.”
He added: “It would be nice to finish the year number one, but I’m happy that I managed to get there.”
It is the Briton’s fourth title in succession after wins in Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna and his 14th career Masters 1000 triumph.
Murray will next look to end Djokovic’s four-year dominance at the November 13-20 Tour Finals in London.
For Isner, who finishes the season without a title for the first time since 2009, it was his third appearance in a Masters final after finishing runner-up at Indian Wells in 2012 and Cincinnati in 2013.
“I have to congratulate Andy, first for the title, and then for getting to number one in the world. That’s an incredible achievement, you absolutely deserve it,” said Isner. “It’s a good week for me. It’s definitely disappointing. I certainly wasn’t happy to be there today, getting to the finals, I wasn’t happy about that. 
“I wanted to win, and I expected to win. I just fell a little bit short.”
Murray entered his Tour-leading 12th final of the year having won all seven previous meetings with Isner, including straight-sets wins at Roland Garros in May and last week in Vienna.

Murray caps rise to number one with Paris title

AFP, PARIS: Andy Murray celebrated his new world number one ranking with a first Paris Masters title on Sunday after defeating American John Isner 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 in the final. Murray, 29, replaces Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings on Monday and claimed his eighth title of a remarkable season after extending his winning run to 19 matches. This has been an incredible journey for me to get to the top of the rankings, said Murray, who will move 405 points above long-time rival Djokovic. Sometimes after you achieve something big or something that you maybe didnt 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. He added: It would be nice to finish the year number one, but Im happy that I managed to get there. It is the Britons fourth title in succession after wins in Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna and his 14th career Masters 1000 triumph. Murray will next look to end Djokovics four-year dominance at the November 13-20 Tour Finals in London. For Isner, who finishes the season without a title for the first time since 2009, it was his third appearance in a Masters final after finishing runner-up at Indian Wells in 2012 and Cincinnati in 2013. I have to congratulate Andy, first for the title, and then for getting to number one in the world. Thats an incredible achievement, you absolutely deserve it, said Isner. Its a good week for me. Its definitely disappointing. I certainly wasnt happy to be there today, getting to the finals, I wasnt happy about that. I wanted to win, and I expected to win. I just fell a little bit short. Murray entered his Tour-leading 12th final of the year having won all seven previous meetings with Isner, including straight-sets wins at Roland Garros in May and last week in Vienna.