Battle for the top

christ · Futures qualifying

RE: Battle for the top

indiana · Tennis legend

Sorry for not assuming victory before the final

RBBOT · Futures qualifying

For some unknown reason, Andy has decided to celebrate on a 70's Dr Who set!

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

TMH wrote:
You will always get bitterness from certain quarters of every fanbase. They're not worth the time of day.

True, as much as we sometimes get heated in our discussions, it pales into insignificance against the bitterness of the Nole fans. I must admit it has amused me seeing how het up they have got that our man is king.

It makes me even prouder to be an Andy fan.

TMH · Futures qualifying

I find it funny that - despite claims of Murray's alleged despicable 'vulturing' from one particular poster - he's only played 16 countable tournaments this year, which also happens to be the same amount as Djokovic. He's also won just as many Masters, made more finals, AND won the Olympics and played six Davis Cup matches (which also meant he couldn't play one of the Masters) - which don't even count towards ranking. How disgusting of him.

Miriambee · Futures level

Add my congratulations to Andy alongside everyone else's. Absolutely proud of this man who has stuck at it so consistently over at least the 8 years that this topic has been going.

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

Where do we think Andy can now get to on the list below? If he has say 4 more years battling it out at the top, with no youngsters that can dominate either him or djokovic, then I would like to think he could potentially reach Lleyton Hewitt 10th place on 80 weeks with Rafa's 7th place a target of 141 weeks as the absolute maximum, assuming a djokovic fightback and share of no.1 weeks.

Andy Murray UK 1
Patrick Rafter Australia 1
Carlos Moya Spain 2
Yevgeny Kafelnikov Russia 6
Thomas Muster Austria 6
Marcelo Rios Chile 6
Juan Carlos Ferrero Spain 8
John Newcombe Australia 8
Marat Safin Russia 9
Boris Becker Germany 12
Andy Roddick US 13
Mats Wilander Sweden 20
Ilie Nastase Romania 40
Gustavo Kuerten Brazil 43
Jim Courier US 58
Stefan Edberg Sweden 72
Lleyton Hewitt Australia 80
Andre Agassi US 101
Bjorn Borg Sweden 109
Rafael Nadal Spain 141
John McEnroe US 170
Novak Djokovic Serbia 223
Jimmy Connors US 268
Ivan Lendl US 270
Pete Sampras US 286
Roger Federer Switzerland 302

christ · Futures qualifying

I'm more of a "one step at a time" kinda guy: I'm hoping that he has his sights set on Carlos Moya first. Then he can worry about Mr Rios etc.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

I think Andy will set his sights elsewhere. Staying at Nº1 may well be a consequence of other goals, but I think his motivation will return to adding to his haul of Slams, with the thought of a career slam not being unrealistic.

the addict · Tennis legend

Bob in Spain wrote:
I think Andy will set his sights elsewhere. Staying at Nº1 may well be a consequence of other goals, but I think his motivation will return to adding to his haul of Slams, with the thought of a career slam not being unrealistic.

That elusive Australian Open comes to mind - must be top of his list of future goals

christ · Futures qualifying

Bob in Spain wrote:
I think Andy will set his sights elsewhere. Staying at Nº1 may well be a consequence of other goals, but I think his motivation will return to adding to his haul of Slams, with the thought of a career slam not being unrealistic.

I think that staying ahead of Stan in that regard (Slams and career slam) will motivate him a little.

indiana · Tennis legend

With Novak having so much more to defend from now until the clay season there is certainly potential for Andy to be #1 over much 2017.

Indeed if their first half of the year performances are closer than last year, having been so divergent last year, Andy could maybe build a fair lead by clay court time which could take further months to break down even by a resurgent Novak.

Be great if these could all be consecutive weeks, though the 02 could clearly reverse the positions for now and it might take winning the Aussie Open ( a clearly big aim ) to get ahead again.

Having got to #1 ( so huge just for two weeks as it will be minimum ) I do think like Bob his focus will be very much on Slams, as I think it was before. But he did see a window for #1 ( he thought, as most, more for next year ) and that did motivate him, probably even more so after the Davis Cup loss.

But yes just focussing on Slam goals will, allied to the Maths, if sucessful in itself probably help keep him at #1 - eg win the Aussie Open, at least reach the final again at the French Open, and even with a more 'normal' Djokovic Andy would very probably be #1 from at least the completion of the Aussie Open until the start of Wimbledon.

If Novak doesn't refind his mojo, who knows; maybe quite a long time ...

vohor · Grand Slam Champion

Really believe Andy will finally nail the AO this time; the French is also a distinct possibility...a career slam just one year behind Djokovic would feel like justice being done given how long Andy has had to stay patient and work, work, work for his step up to the top pedestal. Here's hoping :)

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

Henman thinks Murray will make it to 52 weeks at no.1, the article doesn't mention if he means consecutive weeks.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/37887919

indiana · Tennis legend

Born2WinTennis wrote:
Henman thinks Murray will make it to 52 weeks at no.1, the article doesn't mention if he means consecutive weeks.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/37887919

Nice interview too with Andy. Thoughtful and considered but clearly so proud.

Liked how he said about the comparative #1 achievement that there have been less #1s than Slam winners. Then quickly thought about that and reconsidered that maybe not, but certainly in the last 10 years or so with Roger, Rafa and Novak.

We get you Andy, there were indeed quite a number of relatively pish #1s passing the baton on in the early 2000s Though I think he was still probably right first time.

-- Edited by indiana on Thursday 10th of November 2016 02:15:02 PM