Murray just 5/4 to be world number one after Vienna victory
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Andy Murray is his shortest odds yet to end the year as world number one, after the Scot continued his relentless assault on Novak Djokovic’s top spot with victory in the Erste Bank Open.
Having been a 3/1 chance to end 2016 as number one, Murray is just 5/4 now following another superb display in Vienna last week.
The Scot has now won a career-best seven ATP titles in one season, in addition to his Wimbledon and Olympic triumphs.
Now just 415 points behind Djokovic in the rankings, Murray can become the first Brit ever to be number one if he can win in Paris this week.
However, the Serbian can maintain his place at the pinnacle by reaching the final, while there are a plethora of other potential outcomes should both men fall in the early rounds.
Even if he fails in Paris, Murray should still have a shot at it when he arrives in London for the ATP World Tour Finals.
However, Djokovic is traditionally strong at this point in the season, winning in the French capital for the last three years, while dominating at the O2 Arena since 2012.
Murray’s back-up plan then, will be April next year.
The Scot can add a sizeable haul of points in six months’ time because of relatively early exits at Indian Wells and Miami this year, while Djokovic won both.
So if Murray can put a strong run together, then victories at one or both events could usurp the Serbian at long last.
But given that the 29-year-old is currently on a stunning 56-4 record, while his great rival heads to Paris without either of his two main coaches, Murray may not need that back-up option.
And with injury concerns surrounding Djokovic too, there is a very real chance Murray can end the year with a number one icing on a very successful 2016 cake.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
