What a year Andy Murray is having!

First, he and wife, Kim Sears, welcomed their baby girl, Sophia Olivia into the world on 7 February and then he won seven titles, including an Olympic Gold, before going to the Paris Masters this week. 

But the story does not end there. 

Murray has also rapidly been closing in on World No. 1, Novak Djokovic, who has had an upside down year due to injuries and personal issues, so going to the Paris Masters, Murray had a shot at starting off this coming week as the new World No. 1 player, if Djokovic didn’t reach the final and if he, Murray advanced further than Djokovic. 

Murray was pushed all the way by Fernando Verdasco in the first round, but then managed to dispose of Lucas Pouille and Tomas Berdych in two sets each. He was given an automatic advance to the final, when his semi-final opponent, Milos Raonic withdrew due to injury. 

Meanwhile, in the other half of the draw, Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals, where he was defeated by last week’s Swiss Indoors Basel champion, Marin Cilic in two sets. Cilic then when on to lose to John Isner from America.

So, when Murray stepped onto the court today, he knew he would wake up tomorrow as the new World No. 1 Men’s tennis player (and the first British player to reach this milestone since the introduction of the computerised rankings in 1973), but the Paris Masters title would just be the cherry on the cake. 

Despite a valiant effort by the big American, Murray managed to hold on for a 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4 win and with it, his eighth title for this year.

Both his opponent, John Isner and the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, China winner, Petra Kvitova congratulated Murray on reaching No. 1. Twitter has also been alive with congrats from around the world with many sharing the same sentiment that all Murray’s hard work has now paid off.

Christmas is sure to be that much sweeter in the Murray household this year.