‘I believe I can get there’: Andy Murray sets sights on No 1 ranking after mastering Shanghai

Andy Murray has won two titles in as many weeks in China following his victory on Sunday at the Shanghai Masters. Lintao Zhang / Getty Images

Andy Murray demolished Roberto Bautista Agut to win the Shanghai Masters without dropping a set as he edged closer to Novak Djokovic’s world No 1 ranking on Sunday.

The Wimbledon and Olympic champion won seven points in a row in the first-set tie-break and broke Bautista Agut three times in the second set to win his third Shanghai title 7-6 (7/1), 6-1.

The rampant Murray, 29, is now on a 10-match winning streak in which he has won 20 straight sets, including last week’s similarly impressive victory at the China Open in Beijing.

Additionally, the world No 2 has cut the gap to just 915 points from the out-of-sorts Djokovic, who was shocked by Spain’s Bautista Agut in the semi-final.

Indeed, Murray can clinch top spot with titles in Vienna next week and Paris the week after if Djokovic fails to reach the final of the tournament in the French capital.

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“I believe I can get there. I definitely believe I can get there. These last few months have proved that to me,” Murray said of the top ranking.

“I may never get another chance to be No 1, so I’ll give it my best shot to do that while I have the opportunity.”

World No 19 Bautista Agut, who was playing his first Masters final, said it was clear how much Murray wanted to secure the top spot.

“I think I can see it in his eyes. He’s really focused on getting No 1,” the Spaniard, 28, said.

Murray’s first serve of the match was a thumping ace and he took a grip on the opening set at 3-3 when Bautista Agut netted a backhand to lose the first break point of the match.

But Murray, serving at 5-4, lost three set points and got in a tangle on a drop shot to hand Bautista Agut his first break point, which he converted with a strong forehand.

The Briton slammed three consecutive aces for 6-6 and he dominated the tie-break, reeling off seven points in a row and taking the set with a sizzling backhand return.

A string of Bautista Agut errors put Murray a break up at the start of the second set, but to his obvious frustration he gave it straight back with a miscued forehand.

But Bautista twice double-faulted to go a break down before handing over yet another break, making victory a formality for Murray who tucked away his first championship point.

With his 41st ATP title and sixth this year, Murray joins Stefan Edberg in joint 15th place on the list of Open-era title winners.

Of greater concern will be his place in the rankings as he draws ever closer to the imploding Djokovic, who has hit a rocky patch after a period of sustained dominance.

“I will try to finish this year as strong as I can. And next year if the opportunity is there to reach No 1, then I want to try to take it,” Murray said.

“But it’s not going to be easy because Novak plays great tennis indoors, and also his record at the beginning of the year is phenomenal in Australia and Indian Wells, Miami.

“It’s going to be a tough thing to achieve that. I’m aware of that. I’m close-ish right now, but it’s going to be really tough still.”

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