Top seed and World No. 2 Andy Murray kept himself alive in the race to finish 2016 as the World No. 1, ending Novak Djokovic’s rule by defeating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6 in the final of the Erste Bank Open on Sunday in Vienna.
This was the Scotsman’s seventh title of the year, equalling Djokovic’s haul, and 42nd career title. He is also on a 15-match unbeaten run that goes back to the China Open, in Beijing. The win also brings Murray just 415 points adrift of Djokovic with one last Association of Tennis Professionals tournament, the Paris Masters, being played this week before the start of the World Tour Finals, in London, next week.
Djokovic and Murray are the top two seeds in Paris, where the Serbian is the defending champion. Murray has a chance to become the World No. 1 after the Paris Masters, if he wins the title and Djokovic is eliminated before the final. Alternatively, if Murray is unable to reach the final, he can still overtake Djokovic, provided the Serb loses before the semi-finals.
Marin Cilic captures Basel crown
Basel, Roger Federer’s home town that usually sees the 17-time Grand Slam as one of the finalists, had two different players vying for the title. Finalist from 2011 Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic played out the final that saw London hopeful Cilic notch his first ATP 500 win in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6.
Cilic is now in the eighth position in the qualifying Race to London, with Tomas Berdych narrowly trailing him by 210 points in the ninth place. The Croat will need to do well in the Paris Masters to confirm his place in the eight-player finals. If Cilic does qualify, it will be his second appearance in the World Tour Finals. Cilic made his debut in London in 2014, after having won the US Open where coincidentally, Nishikori was his opponent in the final.
Nishikori has already booked his place in the London finals along with Djokovic, Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils.