"I have never had success like I have had the last few months in my career, so to keep that going, I’m aware it’s going to be a difficult thing to do,” he warned. But if he keeps his current trajectory, it won’t be long before he becomes Britain’s first world number one under the ATP’s computerised rankings, which were introduced in 1973.Evolving from a gawky kidThe one-time gawky kid still berates himself during matches but he is far more comfortable with the media, giving fulsome and intelligent answers to all questions.Murray hired British coach Jamie Delgado this year and Ivan Lendl’s return to his team in June was quickly followed by victory at Wimbledon.What’s more, Murray, often marked out for his anguished demeanour on court, is growing into the role of eminent tour-leader in the mould of Djokovic and Federer before him.

"Winning Wimbledon was really a big boost to my confidence after I had had quite a few tough losses in the Slams the last few years,” he said. These last few months have proved that to me.Andy Murray has never been the most fashionable member of tennis’s ‘Big Four’, but he finally looks the part as he zeroes in on the world number one spot.Andy Murray Andy Murray has never been the most fashionable member of tennis’s ‘Big Four’, but he finally looks the part as he zeroes in on the world number one spot.Rafael Nadal is also a fading force but Murray would be a deserving successor as the last of the four, who have 46 Grand Slam titles between them, to reach number one.He has reached three Slam finals this year, winning his second Wimbledon title and also becoming the first man to successfully defend Olympic singles gold."I have obviously quite a different team this year with Ivan and Jamie. He hasn’t looked back since.It has been some journey for Murray, who survived the 1996 Dunblane school massacre when he was eight and moved to Spain to further his tennis career when he was 15.

Physically, too, Murray is at his peak, with supreme fitness and acceleration that can shift his now-hulking frame around the court at frightening speeds.It could get better for Murray, who can overtake Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings with wins in Vienna and Paris, provided the Serb doesn’t reach the Paris final. Since the French Open, I’ve played the best three months of tennis of my career. It helped motivate me."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.”Wary of Djoko’s resurgenceObstacles remain and Murray is wary of a return to form by Djokovic, conservatively predicting that February or March represent his best chance of reaching number one. He is also prepared to defend and mentor younger players such as the wayward Nick Kyrgios, whose latest on-court meltdown resulted in a fine in Shanghai."That kind of gave me a lot more belief in myself that I could win the major competitions again.

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