Murray handed tough draw in bid to end year number one
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[November 08, 2016]
By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray's route
to securing the year-end world number ranking looks fraught with
danger after the top seed was grouped with Stan Wawrinka, Kei
Nishikori and Marin Cilic for next week's ATP World Tour Finals in
London.
Murray, who reached the number one ranking for the first time on
Monday to end Novak Djokovic's 122-week reign, will begin his group
round-robin matches on Monday against in-form Croatian Cilic.
Djokovic, whose form has dipped since he completed his career grand
slam by winning the French Open for the first time in June, was
placed in an easier-looking group with tournament debutants Gael
Monfils and Dominic Thiem and Canada's Wimbledon runner-up Milos
Raonic.
He has a combined 23-0 career record against that trio, leading
Monfils 13-0, Raonic 7-0 and Thiem 3-0.
The 12-times grand slam-winning Serb will open on Sunday against
world number nine Thiem.
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Murray usurped Djokovic after winning the Paris Masters against John
Isner on Sunday, although he was already assured of becoming the
26th player to top the ATP rankings when Raonic pulled out of their
semi-final on Saturday.
Djokovic lost to Cilic in Paris at the quarter-final stage.
Murray has strung together 18 consecutive wins and has won his last
four tournaments since losing in the U.S. Open quarter-finals to
Japan's Nishikori.
Cilic beat Murray in the Cincinnati final, shortly before the U.S.
Open, while Swiss Wawrinka, the U.S. Open champion, has beaten
Murray seven times in 16 meetings, including at the Tour Finals last
year when he won in straight sets.
Murray holds a 405-point lead over Djokovic but his record at
London's O2 Arena has been unimpressive.
In seven previous appearances he has never reached the final, losing
three times at the semi-final stage.
Defending champion Djokovic has won the title for the past four
years, losing only one round-robin match in that time.
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Murray reacts. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
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With 1,500 points available for an undefeated champion next week,
the tournament could produce a thrilling climax with Murray and
Djokovic, who have never met at the O2, facing off in the final for
the year-end number one ranking.
"It's nice to play in London ranked one, but once you are on the
court you are not thinking about your ranking," Murray told the ATP
website.
"It's the top eight players and every match will be tough."
Full draw: (world ranking in brackets)
John McEnroe Group
Andy Murray (Britain) (1)
Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) (3)
Kei Nishikori (Japan) (5)
Marin Cilic (Croatia) (7)
Ivan Lendl Group
Novak Djokovic (Serbia) (2)
Milos Raonic (Canada) (4)
Gael Monfils (France) (6)
Dominic Thiem (Austria) (9)
*Top two players from each group contest semi-finals
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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