PARIS: Britain’s Andy Murray became the new world number one on Saturday after Milos Raonic withdrew from their Paris Masters semi-final because of injury.
The walkover will see Murray, 29, move to the top of the rankings for the first time in his career after replacing long-time incumbent Novak Djokovic.
The Scot’s climb to the ATP rankings’ summit caps a remarkable year which has seen him win a second Wimbledon crown and mount a successful defence of his Olympic title in Rio.
Raonic said he had suffered a muscle tear in his right leg in his previous match, sending Murray through to face John Isner in Sunday’s final.
“This morning I had trouble waking up and getting out of bed,” said Raonic, who hurt himself in Friday’s quarter-final win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
“I had some tests and an MRI half an hour ago and they found that I have a tear, Grade 1 tear in the right quad. Unfortunately, I’m not able to compete against Andy today in the second semi-final.”
Murray had needed to reach the final to supplant Djokovic at the top following the Serb’s defeat to Marin Cilic in the last eight.
However, he didn’t need to hit a single ball as Raonic announced his withdrawal in a hastily-arranged press conference.
Murray will be confirmed as the new number one — the 26th different player in history to hold top spot — when the latest ATP rankings are released on Monday.
He is the oldest first-time number one since 30-year-old John Newcombe of Australia in June 1974.
Murray will meet Isner as he targets a maiden Paris Masters title after the big-serving American toppled Cilic 6-4, 6-3 in the first semi-finals.
Isner, who also reached the last four in 2011, broke the ninth seed at 4-all before serving out for the first set.
Cilic sealed his place at the Tour Finals in London this week and then snapped a 14-match losing run against Djokovic, but the Croat couldn’t maintain that level against Isner.
The American seized control again at 3-3 in the second set and inflicted his first defeat on Cilic in seven attempts with another break of serve.
Isner will bid for his first Masters 1000 title after reaching the final at Indian Wells in 2012 and Cincinnati in 2013.
Meanwhile, Raonic’s injury throws his participation at the November 13-20 Tour Finals into doubt, although he refused to rule out taking part just yet.
“I still have the possibility of making it, but I was told five to ten days. So I’m on the borderline for that,” he said.
Factfile
World ranking: 1 (as of 07/11/16)
Age: 29
Birthdate: May 15, 1987
Birthplace: Dunblane, Scotland
Residence: London, England
Height: 6’3″ (190 cm)
Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned Pro: 2005
Coach: Ivan Lendl
Twitter: @andy_murray
Career singles titles: 42
Grand Slam singles titles: 3 — US Open 2012; Wimbledon: 2013, 2016
Career prize money: $52,504,008
.@andy_murray will become new World No. 1 on Monday after reaching #BNPPM final after #Raonic w/d with injury: https://t.co/Vbp0dCXamt #ATP pic.twitter.com/SJZmsbd8ea
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) November 5, 2016
11.5 years as a professional
798 matches
42 career titles
1 sporting pinnacle reached@andy_murray is the new world No.1! 🌍 👏 pic.twitter.com/G9UKdVwt8y— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) November 5, 2016
Andy #Murray is World No.1 #HistoryMaker pic.twitter.com/bi8LqjjdrY
— British Tennis (@BritishTennis) November 5, 2016
Massive congratulations to Andy Murray – the new World Number 1! #Number1 #HistoryMaker #WellDeserved #WhatAYear! pic.twitter.com/doE0mC0GVs
— Tennis Scotland (@tennisscotland) November 5, 2016
Congrats @andy_murray – Wimbledon champ, Olympic Gold, and now 🌎 #1! What a year!
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 5, 2016
Congrats to @andy_murray on being the new world number 1! Much deserved accomplishment for him, and glad he got there. Long time coming !
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) November 5, 2016
Congrats to @andy_murray for becoming the new world no 1! It’s been a long time coming, so well deserved!!
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) November 5, 2016
