Without playing a point, Murray seals No 1 spot

British ace will leapfrog Djokovic in ATP rankings on Monday

Andy Murray warms up after Raonic withdraws from the Paris Masters tennis tournament men's singles semifinals to hand the Briton the world No 1 rankings, Nov 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Without playing a point, the Scot ended a seven-year wait to secure the world No 1 spot when he advanced to the Paris Masters final after Milos Raonic withdrew from their semifinal on Saturday.

Raonic found out in an exam on Saturday that he tore his right quadricep in the quarterfinals.

"The way that it happened today was quite strange," Murray said. "I had always imagined, obviously, doing it on the court. Like last night, before I went to bed, I was imagining doing it, kind of thinking about it happening on the court after a match."

Murray will supplant Novak Djokovic and rise to No 1 officially when the ATP rankings are updated on Monday. He is guaranteed to hold at least a five-point lead over Djokovic, more than seven years after he reached No 2 for the first time.

Their fight for supremacy will resume at the ATP Finals in London from next weekend.

"I'm sure on Monday I'll feel good," Murray said. "It's unfortunate the way that it happened today, but it's been many years of work to get here."

After Raonic's walkover, Murray gave the Paris fans something to cheer. He took to the court for practice, and hit a few shots with the ball boys and girls.

Following Djokovic's loss in the quarterfinals on Friday, Murray needed to make the final to take top spot off the Serb. Murray was to face John Isner, who hit 18 aces to defeat Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3.