It was hard to tell what Andy Murray was most excited about at the O2 Arena on Friday, reaching his first year-end semis since 2012 or hearing the news that his brother Jamie will finish 2016 as part of the best doubles team in the world.
Engage in a battle for world number one with Novak Djokovic, Murray’s older brother secured his achievement after French pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert suffered their third consecutive loss at the London tournament. As a consequence, Jamie and Brazil’s Bruno Soares have become the number one doubles team in the world.
“They had an amazing year. Only started playing with each other in January. Won the two slams, which is fantastic. Jamie had not won a slam before this year, a men’s doubles slam. Bruno neither.” Said Andy.
“They obviously complement each other’s games very well. They’ve played I think really good in most of the big competitions. They deserve it.”
Born in Glasgow 15 months apart, the two players took a very different route into tennis from each other. After playing together throughout their childhood in a variety of sports ranging from football to table tennis, they went their own ways during their teenage years. Older brother Jamie went to Paris to develop his tennis skills, whilst Andy opted to go south to Spain.
“Between 12 and then 17 and 18 we didn’t spend loads of time together. But before then, we were on the court together. Pretty much every time we went to practice or play tennis, it was together.” The world No.1 recounted.
Despite growing up in different countries, it did little to disrupt the brotherly bond between them. Even now Andy admitted that both him and Jamie are ‘probably each other’s biggest fan.’
Showing such compassion between the two, Andy now has the chance to emulate Jamie to become the year-end number one and be the first brothers in the history of the Emirates rankings to do the double. It is a prospect that is making British tennis fans salivate, but Andy himself is confident of exiting London with his head held firmly above his shoulders no matter what.
“Regardless of what happens over the weekend, we can look back on this year and be very proud of what we’ve done as a family.” He said.
Andy will resume his London quest on Saturday against Milos Raonic, a player that he has already beaten five times this season. Meanwhile, Jamie and Soares faces Spanish duo Mark and Feliciano Lopez.
