Nov 5, 2016
Raonic withdraws; Murray claims No. 1
Canada's Milos Raonic has withdrawn from the Paris Masters due to injury ahead of his semifinal match against Britain’s Andy Murray. Raonic's injury means Murray becomes the world number one player.
The Canadian Press
PARIS — Andy Murray will hold the coveted No. 1 spot for the first time when the ATP rankings are published Monday after advancing to the Paris Masters final without playing a single point.
Murray benefited from Milos Raonic's withdrawal from the tournament — just one hour before the big-serving Canadian was scheduled to take on the 29-year-old Briton in the semifinals on Saturday.
Raonic, a product of Thornhill, Ont., said he withdrew because of a right leg injury.
"Yesterday I started feeling something in my leg, this morning I had trouble getting out of bed," Raonic told the media on Saturday. "I did an MRI and they found I have a grade-one tear in my right quad and I am not able to compete."
Murray only needed to make the final in Paris to take top spot off Novak Djokovic. Murray will hold a five-point lead over Djokovic, who lost in the quarterfinals in Paris.
Murray faces American John Isner in the final.