London [UK]: Ace British tennis player Andy Murray ended his 2016 campaign on a perfect note after defeating Novak Djokovic in straights in the summit clash of the ATP World Tour Finals, assuming the mantle of year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.
Murray dethroned Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in a contest that lasted for an hour and 43 minutes to earn his first title at the ATP finals and make sure he remained No. 1 until next season.
The Briton replaced Djokovic as the top-ranked player in Paris, but the second-ranked Serb could have regained the numero one position by winning the summit clash on Sunday at the O2 Arena.
“It was obviously a good performance.You never beat a player as good as Novak if you don’t play well. I’m not suggesting I played a bad match. I just think the two of us have played better matches than that one,” Murray was quoted as saying by the Guardian.
The 29-year-old Briton took over the top spot on November 7 after winning his eighth title of the season at the Paris Masters.
He also reached the Australian Open and French Open finals, losing to Djokovic on both occasions, but won his second straight Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games after claiming his second Wimbledon title.
Murray, who takes home USD 2,391,000 and 1,500 Emirates ATP Rankings points, is the 10th different No. 1 ranked player to win the title at the season finale. Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have taken turns holding the No. 1 slot over the past 12 years. Andy Roddick, in 2003, was the last player other than those three to end the season at No. 1. (ANI)