Andy Murray beats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win Erste Bank Open in Vienna
Sunday 30 October 2016 23:11, UK
Andy Murray took another big step towards becoming the world No 1 after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 7-6 (8-6) in the final of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
The reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion won his third title of the autumn and seventh tournament win of the year to move to within just 415 points behind Novak Djokovic.
Murray can top the rankings for the first time in his career as early as November 7 if he wins next week's Masters event in Paris and Djokovic fails to reach the final.
The Scot added to the 2014 Vienna title by claiming his 42nd career title and is now on a 15-match winning streak after securing back-to-back titles in Beijing and Shanghai. He has lost just three matches since the French Open in June.
"I get a step closer with every win but it's still a long way from here," Murray said. "From two to one seems a small jump in a way but it's the hardest one to make. To go from 100 to 50 is more spots but is a lot easier."
Tsonga, the 2011 champion in Vienna, was looking to overturn a four-match losing streak against Murray, but the Scot was playing immaculate indoor tennis. A single break of serve in the second game was enough for the Briton in the opening set.
He quickly established a lead by breaking in the first game of the second set, but the 31-year-old former Australian Open finalist found some form by winning four on the trot, including a break in the eighth game, to forced a tie-break.
Murray found some resolve during a thrilling breaker, clinching victory with his fifth ace on his second match point to extend his head-to-head record over Tsonga to 14-2.
Tsonga said: "Next week he has the chance to be number one, I hope it will be the case, except if I play against him in Paris."
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