Andy Murray closes in on world No 1 spot as Novak Djokovic crashes out of Paris Masters

There was plenty of motivation on the court, for Murray knew that the door was open to the No 1 ranking after Djokovic’s earlier defeat, while Berdych was playing for a place at the ATP Tour Finals in London in just over a week’s time. They both struck the ball with murderous intent, and it all boiled down to an agonising first-set tie-break that saw Murray claw his way back from 1-6, saving seven set points along the way, to come through 11-9.

Building on that unlikely escape, Murray broke serve in the opening game of the second set. And despite being broken himself when he served for the match, he regrouped to claim a 7-6, 7-5 victory – his 19th in succession if you include the Davis Cup.

“I have put myself in a position to do something that takes a lot of consistency, a lot of concentration for a long period of time, I’m happy about that,” said Murray

“I have never been in that position before,” he added, in relation to Saturday’s semi-final against Milos Raonic, a 6-2, 7-6 winner over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and an opponent Murray has beaten in eight of their 11 clashes. “But I would imagine I would be pretty nervous beforehand. Then once I get out there I settle down. I don’t mind being nervous. I think it’s a good thing. It helps me.”

Earlier, Djokovic’s 6-4, 7-6 defeat at the hands of Marin Cilic had kept those awkward questions swirling around the reigning No. 1’s form, which has fallen away dramatically since he won the French Open. Has he lost confidence? Is he experiencing a personal crisis? Is his body letting him down? Or all of the above?

The right arm has certainly been an issue recently, judging not only by the sore wrist that persuaded him to skip Cincinnati but also by the elbow trouble he reported a month or so later. On Friday he was shaking that arm regularly, and called the doctor onto the court for a painkiller after the seventh game.

Asked later if he needed to resolve the issue before the World Tour Finals, Djokovic replied “Quick fixes are never good fixes. But as a professional athlete, you’re used to needing to find a quick solution. Unfortunately, today that was bothering me a little bit, especially with the serve. But I’m not the only one who goes through pain.” In an intriguing press conference, Djokovic offered a gracious comment on Murray and his pursuit of the No, 1 ranking. “If he gets it, which he is in a very good position to do, he’s definitely a player who deserves that.

Undoubtedly [I have] much respect for what he has done.” So what of Djokovic’s own ambitions? Does he not hope to push back at his old rival? “In terms of what the future brings to me, that’s not in my hands,” he replied philosophically. “I’m going to keep playing at this level as long as I feel like that’s the right thing for me.

“A lot of emotions went through my mind and body in the last two years, with the things that I was blessed to achieve and the career grand slam this year. But it took a lot out of me, and it has put some things in perspective and raised some questions in which direction I want to go to.

So I’m in the process at the moment, and it’s going to take some time for me to redefine all these things.”