The focus at that stage was justifiably on whether Djokovic could pull off the calendar-year Grand Slam or even the Golden Slam by also winning the Olympic singles title. But by the time Djokovic and Murray returned to Paris last week for the indoor Masters 1000, the balance of power had shifted, and it was time for a red-hot Murray, who gained the No. 1 ranking on Nov. 7.
Murray, a deeply driven and still-grumbling Scot who can see doom clouds where others see beach weather, waited longer than any player after becoming No. 2 to rise to No. 1 — more than seven years.
“I’m super happy for Andy, because I don’t think anyone else deserves it more at this stage, and I think a little variety at the top is good for the sport,” said Jonas Bjorkman, the former Swedish star who recently helped coach Murray.
“I think Andy’s going to be the one now that everyone has to hunt, and I think that it’s good for Novak as well,” added Bjorkman, whose new pupil, Marin Cilic, will face Murray on Monday in their opening match of round-robin play. “I can imagine winning the French Open for him and being so dominant for so long, you’ve got to find new challenges and new goals. And now he can start hunting something again. I think it’s going to be very interesting.”
Ivan Lendl returned as Murray’s coach in June, and Murray has clearly been the best player in the second half of the season. But even with the no-guff Lendl in his camp, he has had no shortage of curmudgeonly moments. There may never have been a No. 1 who was this openly self-critical.
“Andy gets grumpy, but he is an unconditional competitor,” said Paul Annacone, Roger Federer’s former coach, who got to know Murray during his years as head coach for the British Lawn Tennis Association.
That competitive streak goes way back. “When he was 5, I can very clearly remember him saying to me: ‘I’m fed up hitting balls. I want to play a match, a proper match,’ ” Judy Murray said.