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His 41-week stint at No. 1 between 2016 and 2017 was the only time any man OTHER than the Big 3 spent time at the top spot in an 18-year period from 2004 to 2022.

ByJohn Berkok

Published Jul 26, 2024

Through the years: Andy Murray reflects on Roland Garros memories

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On Tuesday, Andy Murray announced that the Paris Olympics would be the final tennis tournament of his career. To celebrate his legacy, we’re counting down five of his most amazing career stats, one a day, until the tournament begins on Saturday.

So far, we’ve covered how he became the first British man to win a Grand Slam title in 76 years, how he’s the only tennis player ever to beat each of the Big 3 seven or more times each, and how he’s the only player ever to win a Grand Slam title, the Olympics and the ATP Finals in the same year.

Today, a legendary feat in a legendary era.

Breaking up the Big 3’s stranglehold on No. 1

Murray has a legendary resume highlighted by three Grand Slam titles, winning the US Open once in 2012 and Wimbledon twice in 2013 and 2016. And he won them all in the toughest era in men’s tennis history, with the three greatest players of all time—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic—all in their prime.

But his majors may not even be his biggest achievement when it comes to breaking up the Big 3’s dominance—while a few other players snuck out majors in that era, Murray was the only man other than the Big 3 to reach No. 1 between 2004 and 2022.

The Big 3 initially held No. 1 for over 12-and-a-half years, between February 2nd, 2004 (when Federer first rose to No. 1) and November 6th, 2016 (when Djokovic was still at the top spot).

Murray then rose to No. 1 for 41 consecutive weeks, between November 7th, 2016 and August 20th, 2017. He was propelled to the top spot after a 2016 season that saw him win nine titles—including Wimbledon, Olympic gold and the ATP Finals title—and finish on an incredible 24-match winning streak that culminated in the season-ending championships crown.

Then, the Big 3 regained their hold on No. 1 for another four-and-a-half years, from August 21st, 2017 to February 27th, 2022, after which Daniil Medvedev rose to the top spot for the first time.

That wasn't the only Big 3 ranking stranglehold that Murray broke up, either...

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And there’s more.

Not only was he the only man other than the Big 3 to spend time at No. 1 between February 2004 and February 2022, but he was the only man other than the Big 3 to even spend time in the Top 2—at either No. 1 or No. 2—between July 2005 and March 2021.

In July 2005, Nadal rose to No. 2 behind Federer, bumping Lleyton Hewitt out of the Top 2, and the next man other than Murray to even be in the Top 2 was Medvedev, who rose to No. 2 behind Djokovic in March 2021, bumping Nadal out of the Top 2.

The Sir Andy stats countdown concludes tomorrow with No. 1…

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