Novak Djokovic says he is not contemplating retirement and will focus more than ever on Grand Slam tournaments in the future. Paul Newman says that remaining motivated is likely to be key to how long the 36-year-old extends his all-conquering career.

After Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open in 2008 he was determined not to look too far ahead. “It’s my first Grand Slam,” he said at the time. “I’m very happy about that. I’m going to take it easy. I’m going to try not to think about reaching even higher goals right away. I’m not in a rush.”

Nearly 16 years later the Serb is still happy with his lot and certainly in no mood to rush into retirement. “As long as I’m one of the main contenders for the Grand Slams and winning the biggest tournaments in sport, I will not leave it,” he says.

At the age of 36, Djokovic is playing as well as he ever has. This was the third year (after 2015 and 2021) in which he went within one match win of becoming the first man since 1969 to achieve a pure calendar-year Grand Slam of the sport’s four biggest titles. Indeed, he went closer than ever to matching Rod Laver’s feat, his only Grand Slam loss coming against Carlos Alcaraz in a desperately tight Wimbledon final.

Djokovic’s only subsequent defeat in 2023 was against Jannik Sinner in the group stage of the year-end ATP Finals, a loss which he immediately avenged in the final to become the first man to claim the title seven times. He also became the first man to top the world rankings for 400 weeks.

Having won his 24th Grand Slam singles title at this year’s US Open – he now matches Margaret Court’s all-time record total and has won two more than any other man – Djokovic is ready to make more history. If he wins Wimbledon again he will become the oldest All England Club champion in the open era and will match Roger Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon singles titles. If he wins any of the four Grand Slam titles from next year’s US Open onwards he will replace Ken Rosewall as the oldest men’s Grand Slam singles champion in the open era.

What an ???????????? season for Novak Djokovic! ???

We count down the world No. 1’s ???? ????? of the 2023 season ? pic.twitter.com/E0cTh5tmHP

— Eurosport (@eurosport) December 22, 2023

Until recently the talk in men’s tennis was of the supremacy of so many thirty-somethings and the longevity of modern-day players. Five years ago, for example, six of the world’s top seven players were in their thirties. However, the retirements of the likes of Federer and David Ferrer, combined with the physical decline of men like Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, have meant that Djokovic has suddenly become the exception. After Wimbledon this summer, he was the only man in the world’s top 20 over the age of 27, while all of this year’s men’s Grand Slam quarter-finalists other than Djokovic were aged 27 or under.

On a purely physical level, Djokovic is a phenomenon. His powers of endurance and recovery, his speed of foot, the strength of his joints and his flexibility make him arguably the most extraordinary athlete in tennis history. Watching him prepare for a match or a training session is an education in itself as he contorts his body into seemingly impossible positions.

READ NEXT: Tennis Quiz! 20 questions to test your knowledge of the 2023 season

He also has a remarkable capacity to play through injuries. Goran Ivanisevic, his coach, said that Djokovic went into this year’s Australian Open with a hamstring injury that would have forced “97 per cent of other players” out of the tournament. Yet not only did he play with the injury but he also won the title.

Federer enjoyed similar longevity to Djokovic, but the Swiss was an attacking player who liked to finish points quickly and avoid long rallies. Djokovic, in contrast, made his name as a counter-puncher who wears opponents down with his relentless ability to make them play an extra ball.

With physical reasons therefore unlikely to disrupt Djokovic’s continued pursuit of excellence, staying motivated could be more crucial to his ability to remain at the top. “Goals are important to motivate you so that you have clarity in your preparation, in what you do on a daily or a weekly basis in order for you to reach the destination where you’re headed,” he says. “I think that’s super-important for every athlete.”

After he completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open in 2016, Djokovic did not win a major title for the next two years. He admitted later that one of the reasons was his loss of motivation after he had finally achieved his goal of winning the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection. He also acknowledges that over the last three years he has been driven on by a desire to beat the records for the number of men’s Grand Slam titles won and the number of weeks on top of the world rankings.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic on whether he is the GOAT: ‘We can suggest three answers…’

Now that those targets have been achieved, might his desire wane again? Djokovic does not think so. “My greatest motivation is still my love for the game,” he says. “I really like competing. It’s as simple as that. And then I always have goals – to win another Slam, to be world No 1 again, to finish the year as No 1. Those are the big goals. And of course next year is the Olympic Games.”

He added: “Occasionally I do ask myself: ‘Why do I still need this at this stage after all I have done? How long do I want to keep going?’ I do have these questions in my head, of course, but knowing that I still play at such a high level and win the biggest tournaments, I don’t want to leave this sport if I’m still at the top, if I’m still playing the way I’m playing now.”

Djokovic, for whom a first Olympic gold medal in singles is likely to be a major target next year, has won seven of the last 10 Grand Slam tournaments he has contested (and reached the final of two of the others). However, what if his level were to dip, to the point where he was no longer the world’s best player?

Given that 20 and 21-year-olds like Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Lorenzo Musetti and Ben Shelton – the first three of whom have all beaten Djokovic already  – have so much room for improvement, the challenges to the Serb’s supremacy look certain to grow. If the young guns get the better of him too many times, might his retirement come sooner than he or anyone else currently expects? If, for example, he has not won any more Grand Slam titles by this time next year, would he carry on playing?

Djokovic knows that one of the keys to staying at the top is never standing still and striving always to improve. “Even if you find a formula that works, it’s not a guarantee and it’s actually most likely that it’s not going to work the next year,” he said. “You need to reinvent yourself, because everyone else does. As a 36-year-old competing with 20-year-olds I probably have to do it more than I have ever done in order to keep my body in shape.”

Although Djokovic insists he has no figure in mind in terms of the number of Grand Slam titles he would eventually like to win, we can be sure that in 2024 he will play a schedule geared to peaking at those four tournaments and the Olympics. Beyond that, much is likely to depend on how he fares in the coming year.  “I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs,” he said. “So let’s see.”

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The 2023 ATP Tour season is in the bag, and what a great season it has been. The winners take the plaudits, but it’s certainly been a year to forget for Rafael Nadal and a few others.

A bad season is not always someone being at fault, of course, and every player to ever pick up a racket is susceptible to a poor year.

So, which players would probably prefer to forget their 2023 season? Here are a few.

Andy Murray

I am not sure there is anyone out there rooting for anything other than Andy Murray to succeed, and 2023 started with a huge amount of promise for him.

He produced two stunning performances at the Australian Open to beat Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis and he had just reunited with Ivan Lendl, the coach with whom Murray enjoyed all his Grand Slam success.

However, the year did not go well at all. Murray still found wins tough to string together and niggling injuries tough to avoid.

READ NEXT: Andy Murray facing off-season of uncertainty after brutal admission

He heads into 2024 having already parted with Lendl again and admitting he has not really been enjoying his tennis this year.

Let’s all hope for better in 2024.

INCREDIBLE.

Alex De Minaur comes back from 2-5* in the 3rd set, saving a match point, and beats former #1 and 2016 champion Andy Murray 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5 to reach the 2nd round in Paris.

– Murray was one point away from his best win since june & had SPs in the first set as well pic.twitter.com/hZG6Rommb3

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 30, 2023

Matteo Berrettini

Think back to 2021 and it all looked like it was coming together for Matteo Berrettini. He was a Wimbledon finalist and starting to look capable of making a genuine challenge for majors.

It has all stalled for him a little since then due to various injuries, and his 2023 season was especially badly hit.

The Italian managed just 23 matches all season, winning 12 of them, and has dropped from a career high ranking of number six at the end of January 2022 to barely clinging onto a spot in the top 100 now.

He has targeted the Australian Open for a comeback and has opened up about some mental health struggles too, so 2024 looks like being another big year for him.

READ MORE: Jannik Sinner pays tribute to Matteo Berrettini after historic Italian Davis Cup win

Rafael Nadal

It’s never easy to see the true sporting greats struggle, but that is what tennis fans have had to endure in 2023 with Rafael Nadal.

Nadal and injuries have always seem to go hand in hand. Throughout his entire career, how he managed his body to endure to extreme intensity he puts into his tennis has always been a constant discussion.

In 2022 that appeared to get away from him for the first real time. A brilliant start to the year gave way to a decimated second half, and in 2023 it only got worse.

Nadal managed just four matches this year due to a hip problem, and it has proven sufficiently serious for him to announce that 2024 will be his last on the ATP Tour.

That is even if he manages to get back at all, of course. At the moment he believes he will, and the Australian Open is a target, but with Nadal you never really know.

?? Rafael Nadal continuing to improve, playing practice points ?

? abel.b.horvath IG pic.twitter.com/hl9PInxRdw

— Olly ??? (@Olly_Tennis_) November 27, 2023

Stefanos Tsitsipas

When Stefanos Tsitsipas started the season by reaching the Australian Open final, there were many who thought he looked ready to take the next step in his career.

It was a second Grand Slam final for the Greek, but he has been unfortunate to run into Novak Djokovic in both.

Still, his tennis was outstanding and we all know the talent is there. He has still won more than 50 matches this season and finished the year in the top six, but he has suffered a decline in quality in the second half of the year that is tough to miss.

ATP Winners: Novak Djokovic and four other players who had a fine 2023 season

“Tsitsipas has gone backwards,” Greg Rusedski said at the ATP Finals. “The backhand slice has gotten worse, the block [return] has gotten worse, the second serve, he doesn’t have the placement.

“I’m sorry, he’s not the player he was at the beginning of the season. And if he doesn’t make those improvements at the beginning of 2024, he won’t be in the top 10 to start the year – he’s gonna go out early in Australia.”

Whether injury is playing a part, we don’t know. But Tsitsipas has certainly struggled to impress lately in a year that promised so much.

Felix Auger-Aliassime

Felix Auger-Aliassime came into the year in the top six and leaves it ranked 29 in the world. That is almost certainly not what he had in mind.

It’s actually quite hard to put your finger on why that is, as the Canadian has all the tools necessary to be a major force on the ATP Tour.

A genuine breakthrough seemed likely as well this season, but like Tsitsipas he seems to have lost a little something along the way.

He did finish the year by winning a title in Basel, though, beating the likes of Holger Rune and Hubert Hurkacz along the way, so perhaps something is brewing for 2024.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic: Seven stunning stats following ATP Finals success

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Another ATP Tour season is in the bag and what a season it was, especially if your name is Novak Djokovic.

While Djokovic has rightly taken the plaudits and the bulk of the spotlight, there were plenty of other fantastic stories and successes along the way for other players.

So, who have been the big winners on the ATP Tour in 2023? Here are five who have cause to be very pleased with their work over the last 12 months.

Novak Djokovic

Sometimes you just have to applaud greatness. For whatever reason, that has not always been easy for some tennis fans with Djokovic, but that is an argument for another day. The short version is that it should not just be easy to applaud but considered a total privilege to witness.

2023 has seen Djokovic pull off as close to a perfect season as we are ever likely to see.

The Serbian played just 12 tournaments this year and won seven titles. Three of those came at the Grand Slams with him losing in the final of the other. He also won the ATP Finals.

This season has been one in which Djokovic has rewritten the tennis record book as well. He has taken the outright lead in career Grand Slams, took the record for most ATP Finals titles, extended his record for year-end world number ones, and became the first man in history to win 40 Masters and spend 400 weeks at the top of the rankings.

Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz had a breakout year for the ages in 2022 and that meant the pressure cranked up even more to repeat it.

Repeating it is exactly what he has done, though. The 20-year-old might have lost his world number one spot but that was more to do with Djokovic’s brilliance than anything Alcaraz did wrong.

He certainly did nothing wrong at Wimbledon, where he produced some simply stunning tennis to beat Djokovic in the match of the year and win a second career major.

That was one of six titles, with at least one coming on all three surfaces. It would have been an outstanding year for anyone, but for someone as young as Alcaraz it was even more special.

Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner has never been a secret in tennis. Everyone has known for a long time that he is a special talent.

Heading out of 2023, though, the question everyone is wondering now is whether the Italian is actually a generational talent. With good reason too.

Coach Darren Cahill has worked on previous weaknesses like his net game and he has had a remarkable season, beating Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev twice each over the course of the season.

Sinner finished the year in the top four, with four titles and a Davis Cup success to his name. He doesn’t look like he’s going to do anything other than improve even more in 2024 too.

Jannik Sinner’s 2023:

– Davis Cup champion
– ATP Finals runner-up
– New career-high of #4
– First Masters 1000 title
– First Grand Slam semifinal
– First wins over Djokovic, Medvedev, Rune
– Gucci modeling deal
– Won point of the year
– Got himself the coolest fan army in sports pic.twitter.com/OANp8XP3i4

— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) November 26, 2023

Ben Shelton

If there is one player that ATP fans are talking about now who wasn’t really on the radar a year ago, it’s Ben Shelton.

The American finished 2022 ranked number 96 in the world, and at that point few would have really tipped him for the rise he has since achieved.

He reached the semi-finals of the US Open, beating players like Dominic Thiem, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe along the way.

Since them, he was part of the victorious Team World at the Laver Cup and won a maiden ATP Tour title in Tokyo. As a result, he will finish the year inside the top 20 and looking to make further inroads in 2024.

Alexander Zverev

On the face of it, there is little that looks particularly impressive about Alexander Zverev’s 2023 season. He has a record of 55-27 and won just two titles – neither of which were above ATP 500 level.

However, context is always vital, and the truth is that Zverev’s season could have easily gone very differently.

He came into it on the back of a serious foot injury and he wouldn’t have been the first player to struggle to get wins under his belt after a long time out of the game.

He has regained his position in the top ten, though, and more importantly given himself a platform from which to kick on again in 2024.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic: Seven stunning stats following ATP Finals success

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The Davis Cup, which elegantly blends the sport’s individual brilliance with the essence of squad dynamics, is the oldest team event in men’s tennis. Which nations, though, have enjoyed the most success in the tournament?

The earliest format of the competition granted the defending champions an automatic spot in the final round. However, the Open Era marked a pivotal transformation in Davis Cup history by scrapping this rule and making it a more inclusive and competitive event.

Therefore, our list of the top 5 most successful Davis Cup nations focuses on achievements from 1972 onward, and it certainly makes for interesting reading.

5. France (4 titles)

France have been a consistent Davis Cup contender and it is no surprise to see them make this list. Their success has been characterised by a blend of passionate determination, a wealth of talent, and strategic leadership.

Yannick Noah, both as a player and captain, has played a pivotal role in their Davis Cup journey, instilling a sense of purpose and motivation within his team. His inspirational leadership was instrumental in securing victories in 1982, 1991, and 2017.

France has often relied on strong doubles teams to pick up crucial points. Players such as Nicolas Mahut, Pierre Hugues-Herbert, and Julien Benneteau have excelled in the doubles discipline, adding depth to the French squad which is key for Davis Cup success.

In 2017, France were able to win their fourth Davis Cup after a 16-year drought, writing the wrongs of their 2014 loss to Roger Federer’s Switzerland. The victory – sealed by 23-year-old Lucas Pouille in a deciding rubber – was made even sweeter as it was in front of the same Lille crowd which saw them fall at the last hurdle three years prior.

The raucous French crowds have also played a unique and integral role in France’s success in the competition, setting them apart from other countries and contributing significantly to their home-court advantage. This may explain the lack of success that the French have seen since the format changed in 2019, introducing neutral venues for the group-stage matches.

4. Australia (6 titles)

Australia’s Davis Cup legacy is steeped in history, with iconic names like Rod Laver leading the way during the challenge round era. In the Open Era they have also continued to reach the heights of the competition and thus remain near the top of this list with six titles post 1972.

Australia’s success is deeply rooted in a love for the competition that transcends generations. Their relationship with the Davis Cup dates back to the inception of the tournament in 1900 when it was named the International Lawn Tennis Challenge.

Australia were among the original participating nations and quickly established dominance in the early years. This dominance, which did not cease over the decades, can be attributed to a deep pool of tennis talents.

Neale Fraser served as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team during the ’70s and ’80s, and it was under his leadership that they thrived, picking up 4 out of their 6 titles. John Newcombe and Ken Rosewall were some of Australia’s most prominent players under Fraser’s reign, contributing to those 4 victories.

Lleyton Hewitt’s rise to prominence during the late 1990s and early 2000s marked a resurgence of Aussie triumph at the Davis Cup. His versatility as a doubles player as well as his ability to thrive in front of home crowds played a significant role in attaining 2 more titles out of 4 finals between 1999 and 2003.

Hewitt is the current captain for Australia and led his nation on a noteworthy run to the final in the most recent edition of the tournament. Unfortunately they fell at the last hurdle and handed Canada their maiden Davis Cup win. However, under Hewitt’s shrewd leadership, Australia have proved to be a continuous contender on the international stage.

3. Spain (6 titles)

Spain’s rise to Davis Cup supremacy is synonymous with one name – Rafael Nadal. The 22-time major champion has been the driving force behind Spanish success in the competition, leading them to 5 of their 6 titles.

Nadal’s brilliance in the Davis Cup should not be understated; his ongoing streak of 32 consecutive wins (singles and doubles) is the longest overall streak in the competition’s century-long history.

The lefty, however, was not part of Spain’s winning team during their Davis Cup breakthrough in 2000. In fact, it was Juan Carlos Ferrero who led the Spaniards to victory over Australia as he beat both Pat Rafter and Hewitt en route to clinching their first title in Barcelona.

Over the decades, Spain has showcased its ability to produce the most talented tennis stars. The current Wimbledon champion and world no.2, Carlos Alcaraz, is the latest tennis superstar to hail from Spain and there is no doubt that, with Nadal on his way out, Spanish success will continue at the Davis Cup for years to come, in the hands of the 20 year old.

Their recent success can be attributed to a golden generation of players, an unshakable team spirit and a willingness to never give up which is deep-rooted in Spanish culture. The Spaniards also boast the best record in Davis Cup finals, having won an impressive 6 out of 8 played.

2. Sweden (7 titles)

All of Sweden’s 7 titles came towards the end of the 20th century when the country was home to multiple Grand Slam champions – in the form of Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander – all peaking at the same time.

Edberg asserted his dominance at the top of the game in the late 80s and early 90s, where he secured 6 Slam titles and contributed to 2 of Sweden’s Davis Cup triumphs.

In contrast, Borg was a trailblazer of modern tennis in the ’70s and ’80s, amassing an impressive 11 Grand Slam titles and playing an integral part in their Davis Cup conquests.

Happy Birthday to 1975 #DavisCup champion Bjorn Borg ??. Here’s a little video of him talking about Sweden’s triumph in 1975 ? pic.twitter.com/O8t12gInfZ

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) June 6, 2017

A notable era of Swedish success at the Davis Cup unfolded during the 1980s, marked by an impressive streak of 7 consecutive appearances in the finals. Although they clinched victory in only 3 of these finals, the calibre of Swedish tennis during the period is unmistakable, and this outstanding feat still stands as a record in the Open Era history of the competition.

Since the turn of the 21st century, Sweden have struggled to produce tennis stars and thus failed to make it to another Davis Cup final. Their last triumph came in 1998 when they drowned Italy on their own home soil.

1. USA (9 titles)

Alongside Australia, the US has dominated the Davis Cup since the creation of the tournament, and this domination was not hindered despite the format change and the removal of the challenge round in 1972. In fact, they went on and clinched 9 more titles.

John McEnroe – a 7-time Major champion – played a significant role in US Davis Cup success in these latter stages, spearheading their campaign en route to titles in ‘78, ‘79, ‘81, ‘82 and ‘92.

1️⃣6️⃣ major titles
5️⃣ Davis Cup titles
Singles & Doubles World No. 1️⃣
More memories than we can count ?

On his birthday ?, we want to know:

What’s your favorite John McEnroe memory?? pic.twitter.com/KTrJlMLz1J

— International Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) February 16, 2021

They experienced their 9 titles with 5 different captains, which is a symbol of their adaptability, team cohesion and long term excellence. No matter whether the squad was old or new, they were able to continuously reach the latter stages of the competition.

While the US boasts a rich history of tennis legends like McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, the emergence of new American stars has become less frequent, explaining the decline in their Davis Cup success; 8 out of their 9 titles were claimed prior to 1996.

Despite this, they currently have 4 male players inside the world’s top 20 and American tennis does seem to be on the rise again, so will there be a resurgence?

Regardless, the US Davis Cup team have produced some memorable moments over the decades and remain the most successful nation in the tournament’s Open Era history.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic calls for Davis Cup Finals rethink: ‘It has to travel!’

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Because of the ‘big three’, we are fortunate indeed to live in an era when every week we seemingly get to celebrate seemingly unfathomable achievements. This week in 2016, though, Andy Murray achieved what was perhaps the most impressive feat of the whole era: He toppled the lot to become world number one.

Murray has something of an unusual position in tennis. Due to injuries, he is perhaps offered more sympathy than he is credit for his achievements. A lot of that is down to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic redefining the term ‘achievement’ in tennis, of course, but there is always a sense that Murray deserved more.

His quality is obviously recognised. In fact, for a brief spell, we all talked about the ‘big four,’ not the ‘big three,’ which is a remarkable credit to him. How many majors would Murray have won without having to battle the greatest three players of all time, though? How many more would he have got if his body had not broken down as it did?

It’s all speculation and, as such, difficult to discuss with any kind of real credibility. What we can do, though, is remember what he did do, and in the second half of 2016, what he did was the stuff of legend.

On this day in 2016, @andy_murray became World No. 1 for the first time! ?? pic.twitter.com/pnDhbaj84W

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) November 7, 2023

The background

We say ‘in the second half’ of the year, but the truth is that Murray had a deeply impressive full season in 2016. He reached the final in each of the first three majors of the year, winning Wimbledon. In the other two he lost to Novak Djokovic.

He would, though, have the last laugh of the year over the Serbian. Ove the course of the season, they would face each other in five ATP Tour finals.

One of Murray’s finals that season was against Marin Cilic at the Cincinnati Masters. The Croatian won it in straight sets, but it still sent Murray into the US Open with confidence high, especially with a second Wimbledon title already achieved.

New York was a surprising bust for the Scotsman, though. He lost in the quarterfinals to Kei Nishikori. It was, remarkably, to be his last defeat on the ATP Tour that year.

Andy Murray sets out his stall

Despite his US Open disappointment, Murray still went into September as world number two. That was the good news.

The bad news was that it was Novak Djokovic who he trailed, and the Serbian had a commanding lead of 2,055 points. Murray, though, still saw nothing but opportunity.

“Trying to reach No 1 is a goal. I’ve never been there,” Murray said ahead of the Asia swing. “It’s something I would like to do for the first time, which is maybe more of a motivation for me than some of the guys that have been there before.

“I want to just try and finish this year strongly from a personal point of view. It’s been my best season to date, and I want to try to finish it as best as I can.”

Despite his bullishness, Murray knew that to achieve it, he would pretty much need to win every tournament and hoped for Djokovic to slip up.

READ NEXT: Andy Murray facing off-season of uncertainty after brutal admission

Murray makes his move

His first opportunity to close the gap came in Beijing. Djokovic was not in the field, so he stood to lose the 500 points he won there in 2015 just by not offering a defence. Murray, meanwhile, had skipped Beijing the year before, so he had everything to gain.

Murray was able to take maximum advantage, and after he won the tournament, and backed that up by taking the Shanghai Masters crown too. Djokovic lost in the semi-finals to Roberto Bautista Agut, and that reduced Murray’s points arrears to just 915. The chase was certainly on.

Further opportunity presented itself for Murray in Vienna, an ATP500 that Murray had not played the year before. Neither had Djokovic, but he was opted out again in the interest of managing his schedule. Again, Murray took full advantage to win the tournament and get another 500 points closer to the top.

Andy Murray – world number one

Events in Vienna and Shanghai meant Murray knew he could reach world number one at the Paris Masters. It was still a long shot, though.

For him to achieve it, he had to reach the final and hope Djokovic – the defending champion who had beaten Murray in the final 12 months earlier – did not.

Murray, of course, could only control his part of that, and he set about it in typically focused fashion. He booked his place in the final due to walkover. Milos Raonic, who the Brit had beaten in the Wimbledon final that year, pulled out before their match with an injury.

Djokovic, for his part, had already bowed out of the tournament. He lost in straight sets to Marin Cilic in the quarterfinals. Murray had done it – and reached another final.

That match was going to be a tester for Murray and his return skills too. John Isner was across the net and looking for one of the biggest titles of his career. For Murray, though, the prize was even greater.

He needed to absorb a second set tiebreak loss, but he won the match, the title and, remarkably, the world number one spot.

It was his 20^th successive win and fourth title of the month. Andy Murray was world number one. It was the first time any player from outside the ‘big three’ had been world number one for nearly 12 years.

Djokovic hails Murray as ‘extraordinary’

They say that staying at world number one is even harder than getting there, and Murray faced an immediate test of that. In fact, he faced arguably the biggest test in men’s tennis: the ATP Finals.

The best eight players in the world descended upon London and Djokovic had the chance to regain top spot and earn another coveted year-end world number one.

Murray held the advantage in terms of points. He was defending just one round-robin win from the previous year while Djokovic defended the title.

It was fitting, then, that they met in the final, and even more fitting that Murray won to cement his position at the top of the game and be crowned year-end world number one for the first, and only, time.

“Andy is definitely number one in the world,” Djokovic said. “He is the best player.”

“He’s definitely a player who deserves that. Undoubtedly, much respect for what he has done. We have known each other since very, very early days.

“We were, I think, 11 years old when we first played against each other. And to see how he has raised his level in the last 12 months is quite extraordinary.”

Extraordinary was certainly the right word. In 2016, Murray became the first man in history to win a Grand Slam singles title, Olympic gold, a Masters 1000 event, and the ATP Finals in the same calendar year.

It was undoubtedly the world number one that meant the most to him, though. He held it for 41 consecutive weeks until injury struck him down – an injury from which he is still not recovered and now never will be.

For that reason, then, it becomes more important that ever that what he did in 2016 is never overlooked when discussing the great achievements of the greatest players during the greatest era of men’s tennis.

READ NEXT: Andy Murray: The brilliant yet turbulent career of a British legend

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The ATP Finals stands as the pinnacle event that brings the men’s tennis tour to a close each November. 

As the ultimate face-off, it assembles the top eight singles players and doubles teams, all vying for the coveted title of ATP Finals champion. 

Novak Djokovic is the defending singles champion as he went on an unbeaten run in Turin last year to claim his 6th title at the year-end championships. In the doubles, Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury went one better than they did in 2021 to pick up their maiden ATP Finals trophy, capping off another remarkable year. 

History of the ATP Finals 

The ATP Finals, which began in 1970 as the ‘Masters Grand Prix’, has undergone several name changes and organisational shifts over the years. Initially, it was a showcase event for the best male players, although it did not offer world ranking points. 

In 1990, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) took over and renamed it the ‘ATP Tour World Championships’, making it a significant event in the calendar with world ranking points now at stake. Concurrently, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) – who previously organised the Masters Grand Prix – created a rival year-end tournament. 

However, in 1999, the ATP and ITF merged their events into one; the ‘Tennis Masters Cup’. This competition still featured eight players with unique qualification criteria, including Grand Slam winners who were outside the top eight in the rankings. 

The tournament has since undergone a few name changes but is now referred to as the Nitto ATP Finals, and is played with the same format and similar qualification rules. 

The location of the ATP Finals is determined through a bidding process, where cities and venues submit proposals to the ATP, outlining their plans for the tournament. Once the venue is decided and a scheduled amount of time is outlined for hosting the event, the contract is signed. 

One of the main aims of the ATP is to rotate the location periodically, seeking to showcase the event in different cities and regions. This rotation allows fans from various locations to attend the tournament and helps promote the sport globally. 

So far, the ATP Finals has been held across 15 cities in 11 different countries over 53 years of existence, with Turin set to host the tournament until 2025. 

Tournament format 

The current format of the ATP Finals is a thrilling culmination of the tennis season, marked by its unique structure and stringent qualification criteria. 

Qualification criteria 

To qualify for this prestigious year-end event, singles players and doubles teams must accumulate ranking points throughout the year by competing in various ATP tournaments. 

The top eight players with the highest accumulated points in the singles category and the top eight doubles teams based on combined points earn their coveted spot in the ATP Finals. 

In contrast to the typical ATP ranking system, which considers points earned from tournaments over the previous year, eligibility for the Finals hinges exclusively on a player’s performance within the current calendar year, resulting in a hyper-focused assessment of who has had the best season. 

??‍ Novak Djokovic
? Carlos Alcaraz
? Daniil Medvedev
? Jannik Sinner
? Andrey Rublev
? Stefanos Tsitsipas
? Alexander Zverev
? Holger Rune

The 2023 #NittoATPFinals line-up is locked in!

Who will win it all? pic.twitter.com/h7RTg2YUL4

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 4, 2023

ATP Finals format (round-robin)

After determining the top eight contenders, they are seeded (based on ranking) and then separated into two groups, each comprising of four players (or teams in the doubles event). In this phase, each player competes against every other participant in their respective group once. 

The group winners are determined by the overall record after the three matches. If two players are tied on the same record, their head-to-head result decides the winner. Additionally, in the case that three players are level, the number of sets won, then games won, becomes crucial in determining the higher-ranked. 
Once decided, the winners of each group are positioned in distinct semi-final brackets. This entails the top player/team from group A facing off against the runner-up from group B, and vice versa. The knockout stage consists simply of these semi-final matchups followed by a final to crown the ATP Finals champion(s). 

Rankings points

ATP Finals prize money

Singles

Doubles (per team)

ATP Finals – statistics

Ilie Nastase holds the best winning percentage at the ATP Finals, with a win-loss record of 22-3. The Romanian has won the tournament four times, with three titles coming in consecutive years from 1971-1973. 

Federer and Djokovic share the record for the most titles at the ATP Finals (6), but it is the Swiss man who leads the way on the number of years qualified for the event (18). He also holds the record for all-time match wins (59). 

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Despite his age and the next-gen stars’ anticipation of his downfall, Novak Djokovic has not ceased to amaze the tennis world by producing mind-boggling form, breaking astonishing records, and reaching staggering heights in the sport. 

As another tennis season draws to a close, Novak Djokovic continues to find himself at the top of the game, winning Slams and breaking records. 

Join us as we pick through some of the Serb’s most remarkable achievements and record statistics, from throughout his career, which position him as one of the greatest to ever play the sport. 

5) 2011 season 

Djokovic broke through in the early 2000s and eventually won his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open, but it was during the 2011 season that he carved his name into the plaque of tennis legends. 

He was going into the season – which is regarded as one of the greatest ever in men’s professional tennis – as no.3 in the world rankings, but no one was to expect what came next…

Djokovic came out of the blocks firing and went on a 41-match win streak to start the year, which saw him pick up 7 consecutive titles, including 1 Grand Slam and 4 Masters 1000s, before falling short in the French Open semi-final to Roger Federer. 

The Serbian tennis star was far from letting this defeat hinder the rest of his season, as he went on to win the remaining 2 Slams in SW19 and NYC. 

He ended the season as world no.1 with an astonishing 92.1% win record (70-6), three out of the four Major titles, five Masters victories and an outstanding 10-1 season head-to-head record over Federer and Rafael Nadal, the other two best players of 2011. 

Djokovic chasing his own shadow

Best undefeated starts to an ATP season, since 1990

Djokovic 41-0 2011
Djokovic 18-0 2020
Djokovic 17-0 2013
Federer 17-0 2018
Sampras 17-0 1997

? Getty pic.twitter.com/5hsjO19cBt

— Christopher Clarey ?? ?? ?? (@christophclarey) August 24, 2020

4) Weeks at world no.1

At the time of writing, Novak Djokovic has dominated men’s tennis for a record 397 weeks throughout his career. That is the most of any player, ever. 

The gap between second is fairly large, but Federer does hold the record for most consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings, with an impressive 237 between 2004 and 2008. 

Despite this exceptional feat, which now seems to be near-impossible to beat, it can be argued that Djokovic’s reign through multiple generations is what puts him ahead in the ‘GOAT’ debate. 

While this debate will always be subjective and open to interpretation, the 36-year-old’s remarkable consistency, adaptability, and ability to excel in an era of strong competition make a solid case for him being the greatest ever. 

His sustained dominance at the top of the rankings – even at 36 and surrounded by new generational talent – is a testament to his longevity in an ever-evolving sport. 

Carlos Alcaraz is closer to Rafa Nadal than Rafa Nadal is to Novak Djokovic in total weeks at world No. 1 ? pic.twitter.com/0Id70ueGgL

— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 3, 2023

3) Novak Djokovic: The Melbourne Park Magician

Novak won his first of a record 24 Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, and it is evident how special the bond is between the tournament and the tennis legend and how instrumental his achievements there have been in his career. 

Melbourne Park is the location of the tournament where Djokovic has gone on to be the most successful. Not only has he won a startling 10 titles, but he is also unbeaten in Aussie open semi-finals and finals. 

After claiming the title in 2019, ‘20 and ‘21, the Serb was denied entry into Australia – due to his covid-19 vaccine beliefs – on the eve of the 2022 tournament, tarnishing his reputation in the country as well as his relationship with the Australian people. 

This even caused Nick Kyrgios (not one of Djokovic’s best pals at the time) to defend him, slamming the way in which the situation was handled and reminding the Australian population of what Novak had done for Aussie tennis. 

Djokovic returned to Australia in 2023 and proclaimed: “Those circumstances [surrounding his deportation in 2022] will not replace what I have lived in Melbourne and in Australia throughout my career.”

The extent of his profound connection to the country became evident throughout his 2023 campaign, culminating in a triumphant 10th victory down under as he broke down in tears. 

With a remarkable 92% winning record at the Australian Open, it is safe to say that it feels like a second home for him. 

??????????????????????
?Australian Open: 2023
? Tsitsipas: 6-3 7-6 7-6 pic.twitter.com/N1N0UTbOaz

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 12, 2023

2) 2015 season: Djokovic Dominance

Thought his 2011 season was good? Me too. No one thought it was possible to record an even better season than the one Djokovic had in 2011, but boy oh boy is that what he did in 2015.

Djokovic’s 2015 campaign was defined by one word: invincibility. The Serbian maestro tallied an astounding 82 wins against a mere 6 losses, amassing an eye-popping 93.2% win rate. 

Novak won an incredible 11 titles in total over the span of 2015, including three out of the four Grand Slams, coming agonisingly close to the calendar Slam once again, this time falling to Stan Wawrinka in the final of the French Open. 

He was able to hold his ranking as world no.1 through all 52 weeks of the year and even capped it off with a breathtaking fourth consecutive year-end championship, becoming the first player to ever achieve this feat in the lengthy history of the event. 

This season is widely regarded as the best-ever by a male tennis player, contesting Federer’s remarkable 2006 season. 

1) Novak Djokovic: Grand Slams & big titles 

When Federer hit 20 Grand Slams, many thought it was going to be tough to beat, and when Rafa came out of nowhere to make it to 22, everyone thought Djokovic was going to struggle. Oh, how they were wrong. 

The current world no.1 continues to surpass all expectations and is now sitting pretty with 24 Major titles, the most of any man, but equalling Margaret Court’s record. 

Djokovic has won 3 out of the 4 Grand Slams in four different calendar years (2011, ‘15, ‘21 and ‘23), and has come within touching distance of the infamous calendar Slam – the feat of winning all 4 slams in the same year – on three occasions. The most notable was in 2021 when, after winning the first three in a row, he lost to Medvedev in the US Open final and handed the Russian his maiden Slam. 

Novak is the only man to achieve a career Grand Slam three times, by winning each of the four Majors at least three times. With a certain Rafa Nadal around, it has been extremely difficult to win at Roland Garros, but by achieving this record, Djokovic has portrayed his incredible versatility and dominance on different court surfaces. 

This versatility is also depicted in his record at Masters 1000 events – in which he has competed in 57 title matches, winning 39 of them, the most of any player. The Serb sensation is also the only man to complete a career Golden Masters, by winning all of the 9 events at least once – an achievement he has completed two times over. 

The Sunshine Double – winning the Indian Wells and Miami titles in the same year – is one of the most uncommon accomplishments in tennis. In other words, what Novak Djokovic does for fun. He has completed the Sunshine Double a staggering 4 times (2011, ‘14, ‘15 and ‘16), the most of any player, man or female. 

HISTORY

The Career Golden Masters is Novak Djokovic’s ?

Djokovic becomes the 1⃣st player to win all 9⃣ #ATPMasters1000 events, downing Federer 6-4, 6-4 in the @CincyTennis final ?. pic.twitter.com/oA95IhQhzl

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 19, 2018

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic surpasses Rafael Nadal statistic with Paris win

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Despite his troubled time on tour in recent years, Andy Murray remains arguably Britain’s greatest sportsperson. His willingness to never give up has inspired many across the globe, but it has been anything but plain sailing. 

That is, of course, part of his legend. Greatness is, as they say, borne of adversity. If you were to ask him though, I’m sure he would have asked for a smoother ride.

Join us as we at Tennishead take a deep dive into the brilliant yet turbulent career of Sir Andy Murray.

Starting out

Early life

Andy Murray was born in Dunblane, Scotland in 1987 to mother Judy, who dabbled with professional tennis herself. It was thus inevitable that Andy was to enjoy an admirable tennis career. 

The influence of older brother Jamie also instilled a certain competitiveness in him from an early age that never ceased, serving as one of the contributing factors to such an illustrious legacy. 

Having turned down the opportunity to play football with Rangers FC, Murray embarked on his journey to become a tennis great. First stop: Barcelona. 

Murray trained at the Sanchez-Casal Academy, harnessing key clay court skills that were fundamental in his rise to success. The clay taught him patience, consistency, tactics and physicality, among many other invaluable lessons. 

Turning professional 

Following much success on the Futures circuit and as a junior player, including his triumph at the US Open in 2004, the Scot turned his focus to the professional tour in 2005. 

Murray’s injury woes have been present since his early days on tour and are even claimed to have hindered him in his third round losses at Queen’s and Wimbledon. 

First ATP success

It was not long before Murray claimed his first ATP title in San Jose in 2006, a season which saw him experience real success and rise to British no.1. 

This season marked a significant point in the trajectory of Murray’s young career, who at just 19 had already made it into the top 20. 

In 2007, despite missing most of the summer due to injury, he was able to defend his title in San Jose and back it up with more success in St. Petersburg. 

Breakthrough

With a bit of experience under his belt, Andy Murray became a serious competitor at the top of the men’s game. 

Over the course of the 2008 season, he went from strength to strength and his success was rewarded with five more titles to add to his collection, two of which came at Masters level. 

Regardless of such a successful year, in which he finished as the world no.4, Murray experienced his first major final heartbreak as he fell to Roger Federer in the US Open. 

The following year, his success at majors stuttered a little but he was coming ever closer to an infamous Wimbledon crown, this time losing in the semi final. However, his achievements on the ATP tour did not halt, picking up six more titles. 

As impressive as these were, Murray was hungry for more. He was eager to go one step further and carve his name into the list of Grand Slam greats. 

However, more heartbreak was just around the corner for the Scot. Murray reached back-to-back Australian Open finals in 2010 and ‘11, but was denied in straight-sets on both occasions. 

More heartache

The 2011 season was by far the toughest one to come to terms with for Murray in his career up until then. After his torturous third straight finals loss in Melbourne, he went on to reach the semi finals of each of the remaining three Slams, but fell short in all three of them, including a defeat to Nadal in SW19 to keep Britain longing for a male champion. 

READ NEXT: Andy Murray facing off-season of uncertainty after brutal admission

Turning point 

It looked as if the 2012 season was to follow a similar pattern, especially after his excruciating four-set loss in the Wimbledon final to Federer, a match in which he led a set to the good. An emotional post match interview summed up the agony for Murray. 

However, the 2012 Olympic Games in London marked a real turning point for the Brit, and it just had to happen on home soil. 

After all the hurt he had endured on Centre Court in previous years, Murray was finally victorious on the hallowed turf, turning the tables on Federer to win his first gold medal. This sparked a belief within Murray which he would harness going into the end of that season and the rest of his career. 

At the US Open, just a month later, he finally ended his string of defeats in major finals by beating Djokovic in a dramatic five-set thriller. In doing so, he also ended Britain’s 76-year drought of a male Grand Slam winner. 

2013 Wimbledon 

There was a different feel around West London during the summer of 2013. Andy Murray had not lost a match on grass since his loss in the previous year’s final, and with belief on his side, was determined to go one better. 

Nadal and Federer’s shock exits in the early stages of the tournament made Murray’s path to success slightly clearer. Once the Brit had survived an epic comeback from 2-0 against Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, it looked as if things were all falling into place.

Final

It was only fitting that Djokovic and Murray met in the final, the world’s two best players of the time, in the most prestigious tournament of the calendar year. The Serb was leading their head-to-head 11-7 but Murray had overcome him on the surface 12 months prior at the Olympics. 

The final had all the elements of a sporting spectacle of greatness, but it was Murray who triumphed, ending his and Britain’s wait for a male winner at the All England Club.

Surgery 

After his monumental victory in SW19, Murray’s 2013 season came to an early end as he felt surgery was the best solution to his ongoing lower back problems, the same which had kept him out of the French Open earlier in the year. 

Murray wasn’t the same following his return to action at the start of the 2014 season. He was still able to win three titles and reach the quarters of all the Slams, but this wasn’t the Murray that we were used to seeing. A mix of injury issues and post-Wimbledon blues are thought to be the factors. 

2015 Davis Cup

Murray came back from surgery in 2015 with a bang, making his fourth Australian Open final as well as the semi finals in the following two Slams. 

At the end of the year, by winning 11 of the team’s 12 points, it’s safe to say that Murray almost single-handedly won Great Britain the Davis Cup in 2015. He joined John McEnroe and Mats Wilander as the only players to have won all of their singles rubbers in a single season in the current format, steering Britain to their first Davis Cup triumph in the Open Era. 

Despite his injury troubles from the previous year, Murray ended the year as world no.2 for the first time and was looking back to his best. 

Rise to world no.1 

All of the hard work that Murray had put in over his career seemed to pay off in 2016. It was his best tennis season by a stretch, a season that saw him consistently perform at the top of the sport for its entirety. 

Not only did Murray add a second Wimbledon crown to his collection, he even defended his gold medal at the Rio Olympics. Murray ended his season with 24 consecutive match wins which included the ATP Finals title, a milestone achievement as he ended the year as the world’s best player. In addition to winning nine titles, he also became the first man outside the ‘Big 3’ to occupy the top spot of men’s tennis in 12 years. 

Injury hell 

Following on from what was a heroic 2016 season, Andy Murray struggled with form throughout the 2017 season and his injury concerns were growing stronger towards the latter stages of the year. He suffered a hip injury which proved to be one of the most formidable challenges of his career, outside the ‘Big 3’ of course. 

The injury was beginning to take its toll on Murray who went through with surgery at the start of 2018 in a bid to recover and get back to action. Things didn’t go too smoothly though as Murray was unable to return to the level he was used to competing at. 

Retirement?

The pain was relentless for Murray who wasn’t sure of continuing for much longer. This led to a press conference prior to the 2019 Australian Open in which an emotional Murray announced the possibility of retirement following the tournament. 

However, Murray doesn’t know how to give up, it’s not in his vocabulary. His never-ending motivation, as well as advice from Bob Bryan, is what led him to a second hip surgery which helped him return to tennis in June of that year. 

Clearly unable to move as well as he once could, Murray returned to play on the doubles circuit where he miraculously won the Queen’s title with partner Feli Lopez, rejuvenating the hope that his competitive spirit was very much still alive. 

2019: Antwerp title 

Murray’s devotion to the sport is what has kept the fire inside him alive. After a slow resurgence, he finally returned to the singles court at the back end of 2019 and instilled inspiration into people from across the world by coming back from two hip surgeries to win his first ATP title in two years. 

During a pandemic-riddled 2020 and an inconsistent 2021 season, Murray was still adjusting to life with a metal hip. Although he was able to record some success, including his first top 10 win in three years and a run to the third round of Wimbledon. 

Return to top 50 

Albeit nowhere near the level we know he was once capable of, Andy Murray returned to a certain level of success during the 2022 season. Over the course of the year, he reached two tour finals and returned to the top of the rankings for the first time since 2018. 

As well as taking part in the longest match in his career after a 5 hour and 45 minute marathon battle against Thanasi Kokkinakis, Murray has claimed three titles at Challenger level. 

He has struggled to find much success on the ATP Tour, but has made it into Leon Smith’s GB Davis Cup team in what could be his ultimate appearance in the tournament. Team GB will face Djokovic’s Serbia in the quarter finals later this month.

READ NEXT: Tennis Top 10: Greatest Andy Murray Career Moments

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Decline from tennis greatness is never easy to watch. Sometimes, as was the case with Roger Federer, it is slow yet occasionally soothing. Other times, as we are seeing with Andy Murray, it is nothing short of heartbreaking.

While Federer had a full career, Murray had what could have easily been his peak years ripped from him by injury. There is, and now always will be, a sense of injustice, unfairness and unfulfillment about his career.

Make no mistake about it either, Andy Murray is a tennis great. It is easy to look at the Grand Slam haul of his contemporaries Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and scoff at the Scotsman’s three majors.

However, that would be making the error of humanising the achievements of the much talked about ‘big three’ and lumping them in with mere mortals. What Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have achieved has not redefined greatness in tennis – it has added a whole new level above it. And, in doing so, they have cemented Murray’s status as a great. After all, he matched them. Briefly, yes, but for a spell Murray was at their level.

While the majors didn’t stack up for Murray in the same numbers, he also achieved something that none of the big three ever did: universal popularity.

Speak to tennis fans around the world and you will struggle to find anyone with a bad word to say about him, his character or his tennis. Even when he was winning and managed to top the world rankings during the ‘big three era,’ a feat previously thought impossible by most, everyone rooted for Andy Murray. They still do, and that is what is making this all so hard.

The great thing about Murray was his ability to weave a narrative with his racket every time he took to a tennis court. He told a story, not always ones his most ardent fans appreciated at the time, it must be said, but a story nonetheless. Even on his most dominant days, he usually threw in a hurdle or two for himself to overcome.

READ NEXT: Tennis Top 10: Greatest Andy Murray Career Moments

Often, through sheer bloody mindedness alone, Andy Murray would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It became his trademark in many ways and was one of the things that made his matches must-watch events. He poured his passion and seemingly endless fighting spirit onto the court, expressing it in such a way that we, the viewer, could not help but live tennis with him and through him. There were, and still are, moments during Andy Murray matches when we are all Andy Murray.

However, since his borderline miraculous return from a hip resurfacing injury, expectation and empathy has turned to hope and, now, reluctant acceptance. In the first round at Paris Bercy this month against Alex de Minaur, Murray didn’t snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, he managed to carve out defeat from what looked like certain victory. Up 5-2 in the third, he lost 5-7. Understandably, and perhaps inevitably, it prompted some soul-searching.

Andy Murray obliterates his racket … on his way to the net to congratulate his opponent pic.twitter.com/VjgEIggRHN

— Paul Campbell (@campbellwpaul) October 30, 2023

“I don’t feel like I played particularly well today and I’m still in a three-set match with a guy ranked 13 in the world,” Murray said. “It’s frustrating. I’m not really enjoying it just now I would say just in terms of how I feel on the court and how I’m playing.”

The 36-year-old continued, “The last five, six months haven’t been that enjoyable, which doesn’t help things, so I need to try and find some of that enjoyment back because playing a match like that there’s not really much positivity there.

“When I play a good point, I’m not really getting behind myself and then in the important moments, that will to win and fight that has always been quite a big, big part of my game. Like I said, what happened today, I don’t remember it happening before, but it’s very, very rare. Those sorts of situations happen quite a lot this year, and that’s not really me. It’s not enjoyable.”

Whether the interview was a significant moment or not remains to be seen, but it felt like it was. Murray has always been a brutally honest interviewee and that is, again, something that has endeared him to millions. Perhaps he was letting off some steam, but perhaps it was an admission of substance.

After all, despite never getting close to his pre-injury level, Murray has always been adamant on one thing: he was enjoying his tennis regardless of results. For anyone who watched his career too, you could tell he was telling the truth. For him to outright come out and admit he is not enjoying it now, and has not been for ‘months’ does not bode well.

Nor does the timing of it either. With the season rolling towards a conclusion, Murray is going to have a decision to make about what he does next. For tennis players, the off-season is often the most difficult and least enjoyable time of the year, and you have to assume Murray will be asking himself if it is still worth it considering his lack of enjoyment on the court.

“Sometimes you play really well in practice and it doesn’t necessarily translate onto the match court, but you at least feel like you’re getting somewhere,” he said. “Whereas for the most part in practice it’s not been great. A lot of frustration there in training, and that’s kind of carrying over into the matches.

“If I want to keep going, I’m going to need a lot of work. It’s not just going to be like one or two weeks of training to get me to where I need to get to, it’s going to have to be a lot of work and consistent work to give myself a chance.”

It could go the other way, of course. That sheer bloody-mindedness could well kick in and he could see it as an opportunity to defy the odds again – to weave one last narrative with his racket. Perhaps that Paris Bercy defeat could prove the catalyst for one final run of note, for one final chapter in the story of the man many consider to be Britain’s greatest ever sportsman.

It is difficult to say which way it is all going to go, but one thing we can now be certain of is that, one way or another, the remarkable Andy Murray story is coming to a conclusion.

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The WTA Finals certainly has a special place on the tennis calendar. It is the culmination of the season in women’s tennis, and brings together only those who deserve it on performance alone.

The list of former winners, therefore, reads like a who’s who of women tennis greats.

Who, though, has won the coveted title most in history? Let’s take a close look.

=5 Justine Henin – 2 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 2006, 2007

Belgian women once reigned supreme in the WTA, and Justine Henin was one of them. She won three Grand Slam titles between 2006 and 2007 and lost another final, and she backed-up that relative dominance with back-to-back Tour Finals titles too.

In fact, such was Henin’s quality, it’s perhaps a surprise she was restricted to just two.

=5 Martina Hingis – 2 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 1998, 2000

When Martina Hingis burst onto the scene as a teenager in the mid-1990s, it appeared for all the world that she would dominate the WTA for a decade.

She didn’t quite manage that, although she did win a staggering five singles Grand Slams in a two-year period starting with the 1997 Australian Open. She also won a WTA Finals title during that period, and another in 2000 – as well as three in the doubles in 1999, 2000, and 2015.

=5 Gabriela Sabatini – 2 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 1988, 1994

Argentinian star Gabriela Sabatini perhaps never translated her obvious talent into Grand Slam titles, although she was playing in a hyper-competitive era in women’s tennis in fairness.

She is actually the only player on this list who has more WTA Tour Finals titles than she has singles majors, but her achievement should not be downplayed in the slightest.

READ NEXT: WTA Finals 2023: Everything you need to know about the star-studded finale

=5 Evonne Goolagong Cawley – 2 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 1974, 1976

Evonne Goolagong was something of a trailblazer in the WTA and a major dominant force in the 1970s. That saw her win 14 Grand Slam titles – seven in the singles and seven in doubles tennis.

It will surprise no one, then, that her career also saw her pick up a pair of Tour finals titles in 1974 and 1976, when she was at the very peak of her powers.

=4 Kim Clijsters – 3 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 2002, 2003, 2010

Kim Clijsters was the other Belgian player who made a serious mark in the WTA in the 2000s, as she managed to marry power and elegance from the baseline to produce a special brand of tennis.

Her remarkable career saw her win big titles either side of an early retirement in 2007. Two of her four Grand Slam titles came after her comeback, as well as one of her three WTA Finals crowns.

=4 Monica Seles – 3 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 1990, 1991, 1992

It’s impossible to talk about Monica Seles without a heavy hint towards the ‘what if’. Indeed, Seles is arguably the greatest ‘what if’ in all of sport, not just tennis. She won eight Grand Slam titles as a teenager and dominated the WTA, but a knife attack by a fan of rival Steffi Graf left her confidence and career a shadow of what it once was.

During those incredible years during which she couldn’t lose, she also dominated the WTA Finals, winning three in a row between 1990 and 1992.

3 Chris Evert – 4 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977

Chris Evert won the lot during her illustrious career, and the WTA Finals was not immune to her talents by any measure. Like Goolagong, she was a major part of an incredibly competitive 1970s in women’s tennis.

She won nearly half of the WTA Finals titles on offer during that decade, though, which really underlines what a special player she was.

= 2 Serena Williams – 5 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 2001, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014

You’re never going to write a feature about serial WTA winners without Serena Williams showing up somewhere on the list, and her dominance and sheer longevity means you’re always a little surprised to find her kept off top spot.

That is the case in the WTA Finals, though. Her five titles were a remarkable achievement, and one bettered by just one equally remarkable woman. That said, it never felt like the competition was a particular priority for Serena.

= 2 Steffi Graf – 5 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 1987, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996

The career of Steffi Graf always feels relatively short compared to others. In reality, it wasn’t, but she did feel genuinely unbeatable during her peak years. Incredibly, Graf won 22 singles titles, with all but one of them coming in an eight-year period between 1988 and 1996.

Her dominance also translated to the WTA Finals in those years too, with her winning five titles in that period.

1 Martina Navratilova – 8 titles

WTA Finals Winner: 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 (x2)

Tennis loves a GOAT debate, and whatever the criteria you will struggle to topple Martina Navratilova. She won an open era record 167 singles titles in her career, including 18 majors. That is only literally half of the story, though. Despite all that winning, she also found time to win 177 doubles titles – a tally with included 41 majors.

Part of that mind-boggling titles haul were her eight Tour Finals titles, a tally that even the very best in history cannot even get close to.

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