ANDY’S NO.1 IS AMAZING
ANDY MURRAY is a ‘distant fourth’ behind the main three rivals in his career, according to John McEnroe — and in some ways the 30-year-old Scot agrees.
The outspoken American says it is ‘amazing’ that Murray ever reached world No 1, with his status in that position coming under pressure over the next four weeks.
Today’s start of the Aegon Championships at London’s Queen’s Club sees Murray defending the 2,500 ranking points from his triumphant run through to the end of Wimbledon a year ago. If he slips up then Rafael Nadal or Stan Wawrinka could seize the No1 spot from him.
‘He’s always been top four, but it’s been a distant fourth. In a way, he’s still a distant fourth,’ McEnroe told the Sunday Times on the eve of the tournament.
‘I think it’s amazing that he reached No1, considering the obstacles, the competition that he was up against. I think that’s tremendous.
‘That’s part of why he’s struggling now. It took such an effort to get there, I think even he was shocked. But those three guys [Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer] are better than him. No disrespect. You’re talking about three of the five greatest players that ever lived, so it’s a tall order.’
Murray was not especially perturbed by that analysis, which is statistically unarguable. Quite reasonably, though, he begs to differ when it comes purely to the last 12 months.
‘I’ve always been behind them in the rankings. If you look at the titles and everything those guys have won I can’t compare myself to them,’ he said.
‘There’s maybe one or two things that I have done that they won’t have [two Olympic singles golds for instance] but for the most part I would have been fourth. That’s if you look at a whole career. But it’s not true of the last year because I’m ranked No1 in the world. I’ve been better than them for the last 12 months.’
Murray does not play until tomorrow, when his opponent will be British No4 Aljaz Bedene.
While weakened by the withdrawal of French Open champion Nadal, there are still enough serious contenders for the next four weeks on the grass.
Wawrinka and last year’s finalist Milos Raonic are backed up the mercurial talents of Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Grigor Dimitrov and Nick Kyrgios.