Murray Becomes World Number and Wins Paris Masters

(Saturday)

Congrats to Murray who became number one today for the first time! Surely deserved after a very consistent year although he’d probably wanted to at least win his match over Raonic to get it done.

I must say it feels strange that Murray got the number one ranking after Djokovic’s strong start to the year and winning the personal slam. He did better than Murray in the big events but he can still win Paris and London.

If he does that I’d feel he deserves it a bit more but hopefully this situation will make the people who are always acting like slams are the only thing that matters take note. They can’t have it both ways.

Either they accept that there are more to tennis greatness than the number of slams you win or they don’t accept the fact that Murray is number one after Djokovic won the most slams this year.

I think there is more to tennis greatness than the number of slams you win and therefore I accept that Murray is number one. I also accept that Djokovic did something that hasn’t been done since 1969 when he won the personal slam which is why I am not constantly on his case about the fact that he is slumping.

I never really thought he would ever get over his burnout before the end of the year but, of course, as a fan, you are always hoping. Now I am convinced he won’t after what I saw in Paris.

He lost 6-4, 7-6(2) to Cilic in another shocking performance by his high standards. The defining moment was when he broke serve in the second set and served for the set at 5-4. He served two consecutive double faults to drop serve.

players: *don’t nominate djokovic for sportsmanship award*
djokovic every time: pic.twitter.com/SxbRaTAtCz

— Jeff Donaldson (@jddtennis) November 4, 2016

If that doesn’t smack of burnout I don’t know what does. The mojo is just completely gone. And understandably so. As a fan, you are always hoping for more but in hindsight, it is crystal clear that the French Open and personal slam took an awful lot out of him.

I’ve already written about it. Everyone should just give the guy a damn break. He was on the most dominant run in tennis history and he doesn’t own anyone anything including his own fans.

I find it quite sad that he doesn’t get the credit he deserves for winning the personal slam but that he does get all the coverage for being in a slump. Am I the only damn person in the world who appreciates the enormity of what he achieved?

Sometimes it feels that way. But that’s fine. The fact that I can appreciate it makes it that more enjoyable. For instance, I understand the slump that he is going through which is why as a fan it doesn’t bother me.

If by next year things don’t improve then it may start to bother me. I never expected him to recover before next year, to begin with, which is why everything he achieved since winning the French Open was just a bonus.

I thought he did great by winning Toronto and making the US Open final. But you wish he could just take the second half of the year off because he is not enjoying himself out there but unfortunately, that is how the tennis season is set up and why I am not so concerned with him losing the number one ranking.

I think people have short memories. I have no doubt that he or any of his fans would gladly have sacrificed the year end number one if before the French Open they were given a choice between the French Open title and the year-end number one.

I mean it’s a no-brainer.

Murray Wins Paris Title

All right so I am back today to finish my post after Murray won the Paris title yesterday against Isner 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4. So congrats to him once more. I’m sure he feels better now that he justified his ranking with a win as opposed to a walkover.

And Isner was playing very well this week. This means Murray end the year with one slam title and three masters titles as opposed to Djokovic’s two slam titles and four masters titles.

It seems inappropriate to me that Murray is number one but he can still win London and like I said he can have the number one ranking after what Djokovic achieved this year and last year. And I think Murray will win London too.

Djokovic is just too burned out and there is no Federer or Nadal either. Certainly, it seems the competition has weakened toward the end of the year. I’m not even sure Djokovic will pass the group stage in London.

He looks that fried. He could make semis but I definitely don’t see him getting back to number one in London. It may take a long time for him to get back to number one because he has plenty of points to defend in the first half of 2017.

But that’s fine he won’t have much to defend in the second half of the year. The main thing is to come back refreshed next year and focus on winning more slams. That is still more important than being number one.

Highlights