Thursday 10 November 2016 17:20, UK
Andy Murray is world No 1 because he is special, says Stan Wawrinka, who doubts he can reach the Brit's ranking.
World No 3 Wawrinka is in the same group as Murray in the ATP World Tour Finals, which begin in London on Sunday with coverage live on Sky Sports, and thinks the Scot is the man to beat at this year's competition.
Novak Djokovic could reclaim his status as tennis' top ranked player if he can go through the tournament unbeaten against seven of the other best players in the world, but Wawrinka has revealed why he believes Murray has earned the top spot.
Wawrinka told Sky Sports News HQ: "The ranking never lies. He's been winning a lot this year, more than any other player, so he deserves to be No 1."
Murray's win at last week's Paris Masters took him on to 11,185 points in the ATP rankings, 405 ahead of Djokovic's total of 10,780.
However, Murray may need to win the final ATP tournament of the year on home soil to ensure he keeps his ranking, but Wawrinka thinks the Briton has proven he can handle the occasion.
"He did really well with the pressure, he won Wimbledon this year and he won the Olympics in London, so he knows how to deal with it," said Wawrinka. "I'm sure he would love to win the world ATP title here in London.
"I think every player tires at the end of the year but if you look at the last few tournaments - winning Paris, winning Vienna, Shanghai, Beijing - he's ready, he's in top form, a lot of confidence to take to this tournament here so he will be tough to beat."
Despite Murray displacing Djokovic as tennis' best ranked player, Wawrinka - who has three Grand Slam titles to his name including this year's US Open - thinks he does not have the same "special" ability to overcome the 'top four' of Murray, Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
"Andy is a special player," said Wawrinka. "He's part of the big four. He's been fighting with the three others to win Grand Slams, it's not like I never expected him to be No 1.
"You need to be an amazing player, so it's not because he became No 1 that I think I can do it."
Asked whether he could become No 1, Wawrinka said: "I don't think so. Right now I'm 31, I'm number three, in the top four for the last three years, so it's already something really special.
"I know I can beat every player, I need to do it more often in the year if I want to think about that, but so far I'm way off that."
Stan Wawrinka was talking at a Yonex event on behalf of Prodirecttennis.com
