Andy Murray warns Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer that he’s determined to keep World No1 spot

Andy Murray has warned Novak Djokovic and the returning Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer he is determined to keep the world No1 spot in 2017.

A commanding 6-3, 6-4 victory over Djokovic at London’s 02 last night gave Murray his first ATP World Tour Finals title and ensured he ended the year top of the rankings.

With Federer and Nadal hopeful of being back to full fitness following injuries and Djokovic showing in London a return to his better form from earlier in the season, Murray is ready for the challenge.

“It’s taken a huge effort the past five, six months to get there and I would like to stay there,” said the 29‑year‑old. “I’m aware that will be extremely difficult because I had a great year. I only managed to do it by one match and to repeat that next year will be difficult. But now I’ve got there, I’m obviously motivated to try to stay in that position.”

Federer’s season ended in the summer due to a knee problem while a wrist injury brought Nadal’s campaign to a premature end.

“This year has been hard in some ways because of Roger and Rafa missing large parts of it,” said Murray. “But I hope these next few years are exciting. If the two of them can come back and be healthy then…I think it [the sport] is in a good place. It would just be better if they were fit.”

Murray moved to No1 for the first time in his career by winning the Paris Masters this month, the eighth tournament victory of a season in which he won both Wimbledon and Olympic gold for a second time.

ATP World Finals 2016 at O2 Arena - In pictures

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He returned to his Surrey home last night and plans a meal out with his team tonight. But he has just two weeks off before flying out to Miami for a two-and-a-half week training block. When he jets out there, he insists his focus will be more on adding to his three Grand Slam titles rather than maintaining the No1 spot — because of the points Djokovic has to defend early in the year he should maintain the position for a few months of 2017 at least.

“The majors are what gets me working hard and what really, really motivates me,” he added. “When I go away in December to train, I’m training with the Australian Open in mind. Because of the best-of-five matches, they’re the ones you have to really put in the extra work for.”

It’s been a momentous year for Murray off the court, too, as his wife, Kim, gave birth to their first child, Sophia, in February. And Djokovic said: “Kim has to get some credit. She has given birth this year and travelled all over the place. I know how it is with my wife, Jelena, what she had to go through as a mother back home.”

End of year rankings: (1) Andy Murray 12,685, (2) Novak Djokovic 11,780, (3) Milos Raonic 5,450, (4) Stan Wawrinka 5,315, (5) Kei Nishikori 4,905

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