Thursday, June 19, 2025
10:41 AM
Doha,Qatar
celic

Murray begins Tour Finals with Cilic showdown

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 yesterday 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.
“Yesterday was a great day, today has just been a normal day at home with the family,” said Murray, whose first match of the Tour Finals will be against Cilic next Monday.
“Once you’re out on the court you don’t think about your ranking. You’re playing against the top eight players in the world. I look forward to getting out there and playing at the O2.
“I’ll try and take a few days rest now, start hitting again on Thursday. I need a few days’ break.
“It will be one big push for all the guys. Everyone has played a lot of tennis and hopefully everyone can play well.”
After looking invincible in the first half of the year, Djokovic, who faces Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils and Dominic Thiem in the other group, suddenly finds himself playing second fiddle to Murray.
The reigning Australian and French Open champion will play in the first match of the Tour Finals on Sunday against rising Austrian star Thiem.

Draw for the ATP World Tour finals group stage
Group McEnroe
1-Andy Murray (GBR)
3-Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
5-Kei Nishikori (JPN)
7-Marin Cilic (CRO)
Group Lendl
2-Novak Djokovic (SRB)
4-Milos Raonic (CAN)
6-Gael Monfils (FRA)
8-Dominic Thiem (AUT)

Comments
  • There are no comments.

Add Comments

B1Details

Latest News

SPORT

Canada's youngsters set stage for new era

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.

1:43 PM February 26 2017
TECHNOLOGY

A payment plan for universal education

Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education

11:46 AM December 14 2016
CULTURE

10-man Lekhwiya leave it late to draw Rayyan 2-2

Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions

7:10 AM November 26 2016
ARABIA

Yemeni minister hopes 48-hour truce will be maintained

The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged

10:30 AM November 27 2016
ARABIA

QM initiative aims to educate society on arts and heritage

Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.

10:55 PM November 27 2016
ARABIA

Qatar, Indonesia to boost judicial ties

The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.

10:30 AM November 28 2016
ECONOMY

Sri Lanka eyes Qatar LNG to fuel power plants in ‘clean energy shift’

Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.

10:25 AM November 12 2016
B2Details
C7Details