Andy Murray reveals why ATP World No.1 was harder than his 2012 US Open win

Andy Murray names his toughest career milestone: and it’s not a Grand Slam

Andy Murray has labeled his 2016 climb to ATP World No.1 the hardest achievement of his career, harder even than his 2012 US Open title or his 2013 Wimbledon crown. The three-time major winner made the claim in a new feature for the ATP No.1 Club, arguing that 52 weeks of relentless consistency outstripped the pressure of a single Grand Slam run.

What happened in 2016?

Murray reached the summit of men’s tennis on 7 November 2016 after one of the greatest seasons of his career. He overtook Novak Djokovic to become the first British man to finish a year as world No.1. The Scot’s path was anything but smooth: before his first Slam breakthrough he lost four straight major finals, including defeats at the 2010 Australian Open and 2012 Wimbledon. He finally broke through at the 2012 US Open against Djokovic, then ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s singles champion by beating the same opponent in the 2013 final.

Why the No.1 ranking felt harder than a Slam

Murray told the ATP No.1 Club that sustaining elite form across a full season was the ultimate test. “To get to No.1 in the world when you’re surrounded by the greatest players of all time, that’s 52 weeks of really, really hard work and top performances to get there,” he said. He argued that a year-end No.1 finish demands excellence across every tournament, while a major only needs two weeks of peak play. Since the ATP rankings began in 1973, only 29 men have reached the top spot: fewer than the number who have won at least one Grand Slam singles title. The only player to reach No.1 without a Slam remains Marcelo Ríos, who did it in 1998.

Murray spent 41 weeks at world No.1, first claiming the top spot on 7 November 2016 and ending Djokovic’s 122-week reign. His 2016 season included Wimbledon, Olympic gold and the ATP Finals while finishing ahead of Djokovic in the year-end rankings. At the time, he became only the 17th player to finish a season as year-end No.1.

What comes next for Andy Murray

Now retired from professional play, Murray has moved into coaching. He’s currently working with Jack Draper, though their planned Wimbledon 2025 campaign ended before it began after Draper withdrew with injury. It’s Murray’s second major coaching role after teaming up with Djokovic at the start of the 2025 season: a collaboration between two former rivals who both scaled the sport’s heights. Murray’s next goal is to help Draper and other young Britons push deeper into the top tier of the ATP Tour.