LONDON: Andy Murray will face Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic in the ATP Tour Finals group stage as the newly crowned world number one looks to win the prestigious tournament for the first time.
Murray has never been past the semi-finals at the season-ending event, but the Scot arrives at London’s O2 Arena with a huge incentive to take the title.
The 29-year-old shattered Novak Djokovic’s 122-week reign at top of the world rankings over the weekend by reaching the final of the Paris Masters.
To ensure his first taste of the number one position lasts more than two weeks, Murray must match or better Djokovic’s performance at the Tour Finals, a tournament the Serb has won for the last four years.
After toasting his success while flying back to London on a private jet after winning the Paris Masters on Sunday, Murray was back to business on Monday as he learned his initial opponents in the Tour Finals.
Murray has had mixed results against his group rivals this year, losing to Japan’s Nishikori in the US Open quarter-finals after beating him at the Rio Olympics and in the Davis Cup.
He has lost three of his last four matches against world number three Wawrinka, including in last year’s group stage, although he did beat the Swiss in their only meeting this year in the French Open semi-finals.
Murray was also beaten by former US Open champion Cilic in their last meeting, in the Cincinnati final, but he defeated the Croatian in the Queen’s Club semi-finals in June.
After winning Wimbledon for a second time and then taking the second Olympic singles gold of his career, Murray can cap a dream year by lifting the Tour Finals trophy.
