PARIS, November 6, 2016
New World No. 1 Andy Murray is the champion of the BNP Parisbas Masters, winning Sunday’s final against US-American John Isner. 6-3, 6-7, 6-4. The 29-year-old Briton, who is the 26th player in history at the top of the ATP Rankings, celebrated his very first triumph in Paris Bercy.
Murray withstood 18 aces, saved all of the six break points he faced, converting two of his own to prevail in two hours and 17 minutes. It is the eighth title for the Dunblane native in 2016.
The “Tree of Fanti”, the BNP Paribas Masters trophy, was presented to the champion by Estelle Mossely, gold medallist in boxing at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio, alongside Jean Gachassin, President of the FFT, and tournament director Guy Forget.
During the on-court ceremony, Murray mentioned that he felt a bit nervous ahead of the final.
Andy Murray
“Once I got on the court today it was fine. I wasn’t thinking about rankings or anything. I was just trying to win the match,” Murray told in his press conference.
“But beforehand, I was just happy that I was really up for the match and really wanted to try and win today. I didn’t feel like, okay, well, my work this week was done, in a way. So I was really happy about that, and hopefully I will feel the same way going into the ATP World Tour Finals, as well, which I’m sure I will, because, you’re competing against the best players in front of a big crowd there.”
Murray wants to appear in good shape at the season finale in London, a place where he hasn’t played his best in the past.
“The last couple of years have been tough there for me. So, yeah, obviously I want to try and play my best tennis there. It’s not necessarily about winning. I just want to play my best and finish the year on a good note in that respect. So hopefully I can play some good tennis there. I will take a few days’ break now and rest up a little bit to get ready for one big push out of the next ten days.”
Isner was looking to win his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy.
“I knew I had to bring it today if I wanted any chance, because not often do you get to a stage in a tournament like this against a guy like that where he plays poorly or sort of gives you the match. I knew that wasn’t going to be the case,” told Isner after losing his third ATP Masters 1000 title match after he had finished runner-up to Roger Federer in Indian Wells 2012 and to Rafael Nadal in Cincinnati in 2013.
“I certainly did a lot of very good things out there. I thought I have given Andy a few tough tussles throughout our careers. I have never won, but that’s why he’s right now the greatest player in the world.”
Isner will finish as the top-US-American for the fifth straight year and in the Top 20 for a seventh consecutive season, moving to No. 19 in the ATP Rankings on Monday.
“My game is the best it’s been all year, without a doubt. There’s no question about that. So for me it’s important to take this into the off-season and do all the right things. Of course rest up and take care of myself. Keep working hard and, you know, working smart, getting ready for next year and keep up this style of play. I look forward to 2017.”
Kontinen And Peers Crowned Doubles Champions
Earlier the day, Henri Kontinen of Finland and Australian John Peers claimed the doubles title with a 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 upset win over top seeded Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. They converted their third championship point after one hour and 15 minutes to claim their maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown.
“What we experienced yesterday was exceptional,” told Mahut. “Playing on center court in front of a full stadium was great and almost like a Davis Cup tie. Today was good, too, but we lost. So it’s been two finals in a row we lost, and we are starting to become a bit frustrated about it.”
Herbert added: “We’re going to have a bit of rest now. We are going to London on Wednesday evening, so we will have two days off now.”
Kontinen and Peers lifted trophies together in Brisbane, Munich and Hamburg earlier this season. Both teams are qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals in London, starting in seven days.
