Tennis: Murray ends year ranked No. 1

Andy Murray captured the year-ending world No. 1 ranking by sweeping Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday in the championship match of the World ATP Finals in London.
The victory gives Murray his first season-ending ATP No. 1 ranking and came in a match in which both participants were aware that the winner would finish No. 1 and the loser would be No. 2.
“It means a lot, obviously. It’s something I genuinely never expected to do,” Murray said afterward. “I’ve never been close to doing it before and it just kind of happened. These last four or five months, I haven’t lost any matches. Just kept getting momentum and it gave me motivation toward the end of the year when I was tired.”
Murray went 78-9 and won nine titles this season, including the Wimbledon crown. The victory over Djokovic means he ends the year with a 24-match winning streak.
Landing the No. 1 ranking in the winner-take-all affair against Djokovic made it feel like a big occasion for Murray.
“It’s been a tough rivalry,” Murray said. “I’ve lost many of them. Obviously, I’m happy I managed to get the win today, and to finish the year No. 1 is something that is very special. It’s just something I never expected.”
Djokovic had a 122-week reign as No. 1 ended by Murray earlier this month, and the Serbian fell behind early on Sunday and couldn’t recover.