Murray making charge towards No.1 ranking

Andy Murray will try to continue his late-season charge towards Novak Djokovic's world No.1 ranking at the China Open this week.

Andy Murray in action for Great Britain in the Davis Cup. Picture: Jane Barlow

TENNIS: Andy Murray will try to continue his late-season charge towards Novak Djokovic's world No.1 ranking at the China Open this week.

The Briton has enjoyed the best year of his career, winning the Wimbledon and Olympics titles, and the icing on the cake would be usurping the Serb from top spot - a position he has held since July 2014.

Djokovic does hold a 4695-point lead but he will be defending far more points than Murray until the end of the season - 3800 points to 1160 - and he will not be able to defend his China title after withdrawing due to an elbow injury.

A win for Murray would put him 1000 points closer - he would get 500 for the title, while Djokovic would lose 500.

Murray has made no secret of his aim to become the first British player to reach No.1 since computer rankings were introduced.

"I've never been there and it's something I would like to do for the first time, which is maybe more of a motivation for me than some of the guys that have been there before,” he said.

"But I want to just try and finish this year strong from a personal point of view. It's been my best season to date, and I want to try to finish it as best as I can.”

Murray begins his China Open campaign tonight with a first-round clash with Italian Andreas Seppi.

Originally published as Murray making charge towards No.1 ranking