Andy Murray will finish 2016 as the world No1 after beating Novak Djokovic in the final of the ATP World Tour finals in London on Sunday. Murray defeats Djokovic in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to seal his first ATP finals title and cap off a brilliant season in which he also took the Wimbledon crown and Olympic gold in Rio </s> Andy Murray won the ATP World Tour Finals title and ensured he finishes the year as world number one with a 6-3 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic at the O2.

The Briton knew he had to beat the reigning champion to fend off his arch rival's challenge to remain top of the rankings, and he produced a scintillating display to triumph 6-3 6-4 in one hour and 43 minutes.

It was a tour-leading ninth title of a remarkable season for Murray, who adds this prestigious crown to those won at Wimbledon and the Olympics.

Djokovic had seen his 122-week reign at the tennis summit come to an end just a fortnight ago at the Paris Masters, and both players came through this week to ensure the final would make history as the first to decide the year-end No.1.

Murray had lost 13 of his previous 15 meetings with Djokovic, including the French Open final six months ago. Since then Murray has been on a sensational run, but many felt his true claim to being top dog would only be tested by facing Djokovic.

This result provided the evidence, if it was needed, that he is currently the best in the world and perhaps suggests the balance of power has shifted his way.

Obviously it's a very special day, that I am playing against Novak in a match like this," Murray said.

"We have played Grand Slam finals, Olympics, matches like this... Its been a tough rivalry

"To finish the year as number one is something very special which I never expected."

Murray's performance belied the fact that he had set two new records for the longest matches in the tournament's history to set up what was arguably the most anticipated conclusion to a season finale ever.

There were concerns that fatigue may be a crucial factor heading into the much-hyped contest, with Murray having played almost three and a half hours more tennis than Djokovic en route to the final. </s> Andy Murray of Britain holds the trophy after winning the ATP World Tour Finals singles final tennis match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the O2 Arena in London, on Nov. 20, 2016.

Without a doubt, Andy Murray will be the No. 1 player in the world for the rest of the year.

The Wimbledon champion needed to win the final match of the season to ensure his place at the top. And he did it, rather easily.

Murray beat Novak Djokovic 6—3, 6—4 Sunday to earn his first title at the ATP finals, and make sure he remained No. 1 until next season.

“I would like to try and stay there, obviously. It’s taken a huge effort the last five, six months to get there,” said Murray, who took over the top ranking two weeks ago and has now won 24 straight matches.

“I’m aware that’s going to be extremely difficult because I had a great year this year. I only managed to do it by one match.”

Murray replaced Djokovic as the top-ranked player in Paris, but the second-ranked Serb could have regained the No. 1 position by winning Sunday at the O2 Arena.

And Murray seemed vulnerable heading into the final, especially after playing three sets against Milos Raonic in Saturday’s semifinals. He started against Djokovic with a pair of double-faults in the opening game, but it was soon his opponent that was struggling with his serve as the unforced errors piled up.

“There was no serious chance for me to win today’s match,” Djokovic said. “From the very beginning we could see that. He was just a better player all in all.”

Normally so steady with his groundstrokes, Djokovic found himself missing easy shots time after time, finishing the match with a whopping 30 unforced errors and only 13 winners. Murray had 15 unforced errors and 13 winners.

In the first set, Djokovic had a routine smash that he whacked wide. And in the second, he netted a basic forehand volley.

It never got much better for the 12-time Grand Slam champion, who was trying to win a record-tying sixth title at the season-ending tournament and finish the year as the top-ranked player for the fifth time.

“I didn’t do much from my side. Every time I would get an opportunity, I would miss,” said Djokovic, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open this year.

Murray is the first man other than Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to finish the year as the No. 1-ranked player since Andy Roddick in 2003.

On Sunday, he capped a long stretch of playing some of the best tennis of his life, and the best tennis in the world.

“I was solid enough when I needed to be,” Murray said, perhaps understating his accomplishment. “You never beat a player as good as Novak if you don’t play well.”

Sunday’s match was the first time since 2000 that the year-end No. 1 ranking was on the line in the final match of the season. Sixteen years ago, Gustavo Kuerten beat Andre Agassi to give the Brazilian the top ranking ahead of Marat Safin.

Despite winning the opening two Grand Slam tournaments this year, Djokovic has struggled in the second half of the season. He lost to Sam Querrey in the third round at Wimbledon, ending a 30-match winning streak at major championships. He later lost to Stan Wawrinka in the U.S. Open final.

“Well, the last five, six months have not been ideal,” Djokovic said. “But sometimes it’s just normal, I guess, to experience, to live these kind of things, not to have the half seasons as well as you want them to be, as well as they’ve been in the last three, four years. That’s all.” </s> ANDY Murray has retained his world No.1 ranking after a stunning two-set victory over Serbian Novak Djokovic.

The top two in tennis met on court in front of a packed-crowd at the O2 Arena in London to contest the ATP Finals title.

Murray won the toss and elected to serve first, but started slowly, with two double faults in the opening game.

Djokovic looked to have the upper hand early on, but could not break the Scot.

However Murray, who spent almost four hours on court on Saturday night in a marathon semi-final with Milos Raonic, began to move into the ascendancy mid-way into the first set.

Murray's persistence paid off and he eventually broke his opponent to win the first set 6-3.

Djokovic looked greatly out of character, lacking energy and ideas as Murray stonewalled every attack.

And the Scot took advantage of Djokovic' sluggish play, which included two glaring misses at the net.

Murray, high on momentum and adrenalin, broke the Serb twice early on in the second set, with Djokovic struggling to keep up.

And although the world number two broke back later in the set, the damage had already been done and there was too much of a Murray mountain for the Serb to climb.

The Scot won the second set after being taken to deuce in the final game, 6-4.

Andy Murray wins the ATP World Tour Finals for the very first time, defeating Djokovic who had won the last four consecutive championships.

The victory caps an incredible year for 29-year-old Murray, who won both Wimbledon and Olympic gold in the summer. </s> Time ran out for one brave finalist here on Sunday night but against all well-reasoned forecasts, it was not Andy Murray. In what was probably his most extraordinary win over Novak Djokovic since he won the first of his three grand slam titles – in New York four years ago – the prince of perversity, riding a wave of adrenaline after one of the toughest weeks of his career, beat the man whose crown he had snatched away so impudently in Paris a fortnight ago.

In so doing Murray confirmed he is not only statistically the best player in the world, but is rightfully so in every way. He may remain there well into the summer of 2017.

In beating Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 42 minutes to win his first ATP World Tour Finals title, the Scot secured the world No1 spot at the end of a long and glorious year, and confounded pessimists who predicted the rigours of the past week – not to mention the previous three months – would drain him of the will to win. “Obviously it’s a very special day,” Murray said. “I am happy to get the win today and finish the year as No1. I never expected it.”

There was some justification for the prognosis, given Murray had reached his fifth final in a row after spending nearly 10 hours on court in four matches over the past six days, compared to his opponent’s six hours and 33 minutes, the last 66 of those arriving against a washed-out Kei Nishikori on Saturday night, in the shortest match of the week. That followed Murray’s three hours and 38 minutes against Milos Raonic – the longest match of the tournament. But, as Macbeth said (apparently): “If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well it were done quickly.”

Whatever notions Djokovic had expressed beforehand about respecting Murray’s integrity and fitness, the Serb looked increasingly woebegone as he failed to break the resolve of an opponent over whom he held a 24‑10 career advantage.

Murray, who had sweated up beforehand, like a fighter getting ready for a world title shot, no doubt had a shaking hand on his racket, double-faulting twice in the first five minutes, although he also banged down his fastest serve of the tournament, a 132mph ace.

With the thought buried in his psyche that time was not on his side, it was clear he was going to throw a few haymakers. Djokovic, 19-0 against Murray when taking the first set, imposed his will early, and looked comfortable holding to love for the second time.

He was sharper and more hurtful with ball in hand in the early exchanges and Murray could not take a point off his serve in the first 20 minutes.

However, he got two good looks at it in the sixth game, and was delighted when Djokovic butchered the easiest smash of the week for a third deuce point. But Murray hit long twice and the moment passed.

Now, though, it was Djokovic who struggled more. Murray, peppering the backhand, cracked his defence with a teasing slice that Djokovic could not get over the high side of the net, and the break was his.

When he forced another anaemic, off-balance reply from Djokovic after 46 minutes. Against most predictions, he could set about building on his lead.

Djokovic, of course, had scored five of his 24 wins over Murray in their 34 matches after losing the first set, and he would have to do so again. He would not go away without a fight – he never does – but giving up four break points at the start of the second set was no way to launch a fightback. When Murray forced a limp backhand from him, the arena rose in anticipation of a famous victory.

The strategy, the predictions and expectations were all being turned upside down. The supposedly fresher Djokovic was heaving between points; the supposedly exhausted Murray was rejuvenated. By the time Djokovic belted a weary backhand long to hand Murray a second break for 4-1 after a mere hour and a quarter, Djokovic seemed to have lost his way.

However, one of the game’s enduring gladiators broke back in the sixth game then held to love to inject a measure of tension into the contest. A 33-shot rally lit up the eighth game, but Murray stayed solid and Djokovic had to hold to stay in the match. He did so, to 15, and handed the sword of fate back to Murray.

Murray stepped up to grab a little bit of history and could be excused for trembling, as he had done at the start – as he had done when stepping up to serve out against Djokovic to win Wimbledon in 2013.

Djokovic saved two championship points but his own hand shook surely as he thrust his closing forehand long. The crowd were on the very edge of civility, but understandably so. </s> His season had already provided several unforgettable chapters, but Andy Murray saved the best to last as he eclipsed Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to claim his first ATP World Tour Finals title and rubberstamp the year-end top ranking on Sunday.

Against a man who has so often been his nemesis, Britain’s golden boy Murray produced a relentless display to claim a ninth title of a year which included a second Wimbledon crown and Olympic gold in Rio.

Murray’s play in the winner-takes-all season climax was all the more remarkable as a day earlier he looked on the point of mental and physical exhaustion after taking almost four hours to subdue Milos Raonic in the semi-final.

It would have been a blow to Murray’s solar plexus if, two weeks after dislodging Djokovic from the top ranking, the Serb had ripped it back with a fifth consecutive Tour Finals title.

But his powers of recovery appear limitless as he handed an error-prone Djokovic a bitter defeat that will leave a sour taste in the 12-times major champion’s mouth as a new season swings into action in a few weeks.

On this evidence, the Scot may enjoy his new status for some time.

Murray double-faulted twice in the first game and there was a wobble near the end as Djokovic mounted some late resistance, but with the majority of the 17,000 fans in the O2 Arena willing him on, Murray completed the job.

“It’s very special playing against Novak in a match like this, we’ve played grand slam finals and at the Olympics before, but I am very happy to win and to be world No. 1 is very special. It is something I never expected,” Murray said.

Murray’s win came two days after older brother Jamie was crowned No. 1 doubles pair with Brazil’s Bruno Soares and a year since Dunblane’s finest led Britain to the Davis Cup title.

Djokovic had won 22 of his past 23 matches at the Thames-side venue, but the cracks that have appeared in his game since completing a career slam by beating Murray in the French Open final returned after a trouble-free route to the final.

He made 30 unforced errors and some of his mistakes would have embellished a video nasty.

Despite his year tailing off, however, and losing a 9,000-point ranking lead over Murray, Djokovic still won seven titles and finally ruled at Roland Garros.

He was gracious in defeat.

“Definitely he is the number one in the world. He is the best player and deserved to win. He played the better tennis in the decisive moments. Credit to Andy for being mentally tough.”

The world’s two dominant forces colliding on a spectacular indoor court to contest the last match of the ATP season with the No. 1 ranking to be decided.

It had never happened before in the tournament’s history.

The fear was that the 10 hours Murray had spent on court this week, compared to Djokovic’s six and a half, would catch up with him and snap a career-best winning run of 23 matches.

Despite some early nerves Murray quickly put those fears to bed, dictating the rallies with unerring length and precision.

Djokovic looked inhibited and hesitant. It took him 10 minutes to hold serve at 2-3 – a game in which he blazed one smash wildly wide from virtually over the net.

Murray was at Djokovic’s throat again at 3-4 and Djokovic buckled, feebly dropping serve before Murray sealed the set with another rock-solid service game.

The final threatened to become a humiliation for Djokovic as Murray steamed into a 4-1 lead in the second set.

He gave himself a flicker of hope with a break and a hold though, and the crowd quietened a little as Djokovic began swinging dangerously, winning one hypnotic 33-stroke rally before Murray dug his heels in to lead 5-3.

Two match point came and went at 5-4 but Murray’s coronation as the world’s best player could begin when Djokovic floated a return wide on the third.

The doubles title was won by Australian John Peers and Finland’s Henri Kontinen who beat Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram. </s> Novak Djokovic wins his fourth Wimbledon championship, beating Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the final

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic wins his fourth Wimbledon championship, beating Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the final. </s> Novak Djokovic destroys Kevin Anderson to set up meeting with Alexander Zverev at ATP Finals

In-form Novak Djokovic produced a spellbinding performance to destroy Kevin Anderson and set up a meeting with Alexander Zverev in Sunday's showpiece at the ATP Finals.

Djokovic extended his winning run over the South African to eight matches, including the Wimbledon final earlier this year, with a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 victory on Saturday night.

Djokovic will now take on German Zverev, who has three Masters series titles under his belt in his short career, and is the youngest finalist at the event since Juan Martin del Potro in 2009, after he shocked Federer in the earlier match.

Djokovic, who has not dropped a single set in his four matches in London, has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance in the second half of the season after elbow surgery and indifferent form earlier in the year.

He has lost just two matches since the start of July, winning Wimbledon, the US Open, and Masters 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Shanghai along the way and emerging once more as the man to beat as he attempts to pull level with Roger Federer on six ATP Finals titles.

The 31-year-old Serb made his intentions clear from the opening game with a break and he continued to make life difficult for Anderson by squeezing the court and forcing a 17th error from the South African's racket for a 5-2 lead.

He served out the set in 39 minutes, with an air of inevitability building around a capacity O2 Arena.

Anderson, who became the first African player to reach the semi-finals in the tournament's history, cut a disconsolate figure when hot favourite for the year-end title Djokovic tightened his grip with an immediate break at the start of the second set.

He secured the double-break for a comfortable 4-1 lead with a crushing forehand and it was all over two games later, closing it out in 75 minutes, as he sealed his spot in Sunday's finale.

"Stunning again! His ability to get behind the ball and change direction," Sky Sports' Barry Cowan applauds Djokovic's winner.

Novak's best of this week

"I think it was the best match I have played so far this week. It came at the right time. Kevin was playing some really good tennis this week. He lost the serve in the first game and that obviously makes a big difference," said Djokovic.

"He relies a lot on his serve. His first serve percentage was quite low. It wasn't working and the crucial stat is trying to win as many points as possible on his second serve. I was trying to constantly put pressure on his service games and use my serve accurately. It worked really well."

Djokovic leads the meetings with Zverev 2-1 having beaten the 21-year-old German 6-4 6-1 earlier in the week in their round-robin group match. The Serb also defeated Zverev 6-2 6-1 in Shanghai this year, but lost to the young pretender 6-4 6-3 in the Rome Masters final in 2017.

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We will have extensive coverage of the ATP Finals at London's O2 with Sunday's final live on Sky Sports Arena & Sky Sports Mix (which is for all sky customers at no extra cost!) from 3.30pm. </s> LONDON (Reuters) - An inspired Alexander Zverev beat world number one Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-3 to win the ATP Finals on Sunday — the biggest title of the German’s fledgling career.

The 21-year-old broke serve once in the opening set and three times in the second to pull off a shock victory in a packed 02 Arena — denying Serbian Djokovic a record-equalling sixth title at the ATP’s blue-riband event.
In tennis, Andy Murray defeats Novak Djokovic 6–3, 6–4 in the final of the 2016 ATP World Tour finals and finishes the year as the world's number 1.