Can NO: 1 beat the Djoker?1:21
Tennis: The next mission for new World Number One Andy Murray is to focus on his relatively poor record against Novak Djokovic.
Andy Murray set to face renewed Novak Djokovic No.1 threat as ATP World Tour Finals draw revealed
ANDY Murray’s route to securing the year-end world No.1 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 No.1 ranking for the first time this week to end Novak Djokovic’s 122-week reign, will begin his group round-robin matches 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 against world number nine Thiem.
Murray usurped Djokovic after winning the Paris Masters against John Isner over the weekend, although he was already assured of becoming the 26th player to top the ATP rankings when Raonic pulled out of their semi-final. 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 US Open quarter-finals to Japan’s Nishikori.
Cilic beat Murray in the Cincinnati final, shortly before the US Open, while Swiss Wawrinka, the US 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 - he’s never reached the final in seven previous appearances.
Djokovic has won the title for the past four years, losing only one round-robin match in that time.
With 1500 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.