Tuesday 18 October 2016

Andy Murray is staying at the bottom after Novak Djokovic

Andy Murray

Tennis sensation Andy Murray is staying at the second of the position for 2016 Men's Tennis ATP Rankings after Novak Djokovic.

A straight-sets victory over Roberto Bautista Agut means if Murray can also win the title in Vienna in a fortnight, he can overhaul Djokovic at the Paris Masters early next month.

But despite winning 20 sets in succession while picking up the Chine Open and Shanghai trophies, Murray reckons he may have to wait until early next year to topple the Serb.

"My goal wasn't to finish No1 at the end of this year but in the early parts of next year there is an opportunity - 900 points doesn't seem like loads," he said.

"Novak will win matches. He is the best player in the world. I don't think he has lost an indoor [match] in a long time."

Murray's form is on an upward curve and the Brazil Olympic gold medallist is pleased with how changes to his game have made such a difference.

"I have been moving forward better and changed the direction of the ball better," he said. "I have also come up with some bigger serves when I have needed them."

Murray's victory in Shanghai was his 41st career title and achieved with very little fuss. Bautista Agut had beaten Djokovic in the semi-final on Saturday but was brought back down to earth by Murray, who converted all his four break points to wrap up the match in one hour and 37 minutes.

Things went with serve until Murray broke his Spanish opponent to take a 4-3 lead but when Bautista Agut broke back and then made it 6-5, Murray took the first set to a tie-break with a love game.

He cruised through the tie-break 7-1 before three breaks of service, to his opponent's one, in the second set eased him into a 5-1 lead.

Heather Watson and Naomi Broady were well beaten by a top-seeded sister act in the doubles final at the Hong Kong Open.

Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan, of Chinese Taipei, rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over the British pair in just an hour and two minutes.

Reviving a partnership that saw them win through two rounds at Wimbledon this year, Watson and Broady enjoyed a strong week in the doubles after early singles exits.

"We've been best friends since we were about nine years old so to arrive at a final together on the same side of the net is just awesome," said Broady. "I really enjoyed playing with her."

Former world No1 Caroline Wozniacki captured her 25th Tour title when she beat unseeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 to claim the singles crown.

The 26-year-old, who will now move back into the world's top 20, has won 19 of her last 22 matches, but was pushed to her limits by Mladenovic during an intense final lasting two hours and 40 minutes.


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