Andy Murray to be new world No. 1 after making Paris Masters finals
Andy Murray and John Isner will meet in the Paris Masters finals. Murray made the finals after Raonic’s withdrawal, while Isner overcame Marin Cilic to claim his first Masters final in 2016.
Andy Murray, without any fight put on the court on Saturday, has reached his fourth consecutive ATP final. Prior to the semi-final encounter between Murray and Milos Raonic, the announcement came out that Raonic is pulling out from the event due to the right quad injury.
More importantly for Murray, he will be the number one tennis player on the ATP Rankings List. After Novak Djokovic’s quarter-final loss suffered to Marin Cilic, Murray had to make the Paris final in order to overcome Djokovic on the list.
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At the age of 29, Murray will finally achieve one of his biggest goals – become the world number one.
Murray’s intention was to give himself a good chance to make it past Djokovic at the beginning of 2017. Luckily for Murray, he won’t have to worry about that anymore. 2016 will be his year.
For the second time this season, Murray will have an opportunity to win four titles in a row. Last month, the Briton Murray made it all the way in Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna. Murray is just one win away from winning in Paris and continuing his hot run. Previously in the season, Murray put on a winning streak in Queens, Wimbledon and the Olympics, but lost the Cincinnati Masters final to Cilic.
John Isner, who beat Cilic in the only singles semi-final played in Paris, will be Murray’s opponent in the final.
Isner needed just two sets to reach his first Masters 1000 final in 2016 as he beat Cilic 6-4 6-3. The match lasted one hour and 11 minutes.
The final will help Isner to improve his ups and downs season. The big-serving Isner started the season as the 11th-ranked player, now he sits on the 27th position. Isner’s run at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris should be enough for another top-20 season ending ranking.
Cilic will stay on one Masters 1000 title achieved in 2016, which came at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
The head-to-head record between Murray and Isner stands at 7-0 on Murray side.
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