Angelique Kerber and Andy Murray have been named the 2016 ITF World Champions for the first time in their careers.
Murray enjoyed an incredible season in which he collected nine titles (Wimbledon, the Olympic gold medal in Rio, Rome, the Queens, Beijing, Shanghai, Vienna, Paris Bercy and the ATP Finals in London).
“It means a lot to me to be named ITF World Champion. I have had such a memorable year, winning again at Wimbledon, retaining my Olympic title, and clinching the year-end Number 1 ranking in the last match of the season. It is particularly special with my brother Jamie also becoming World champion”, said Andy Murray.
Kerber, double Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open and at the US Open, has become the first ITF World Champion from Germany since Steffi Graf received the last of her seven ITF titles in 1996.
“I am truly honoured to be named ITF World Champion and to line up with all these past champions. This year was by far the best of my career with so many unforgettable experiences and emotions. I am grateful for the recognition and I am looking forward to the upcoming challenges”, said Kerber.
Andy’s elder brother Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares are the ITF World Champions. It’s the first time in history that two brothers have been named as men’s singles and men’s doubles World Champions in the same year. Murray and Soares won two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and the US Open.
“We are very proud to receive this award. It’s been an incredible year for us, winning two Grand Slam and finishing as Number 1 team in just our first season together”, said Jamie Murray.
On the women’s side the French pair formed by Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic have been named the ITF Women’s Doubles World Champions after a successful year in which they won Roland Garros in front of their home fans.
In a great year for British tennis Gordon Reid became the third player from his country to be honoured in 2016, as he was named the Wheelchair World champion. Jiske Griffioen from the Netherlands became women’s world champion for the second consecutive year.
Momir Kecmanovic from Serbia, recent winner of the prestigious Orange Bowl, and Anastasia Potapova from Russia have been named ITF Junior World Champions.
