The ITF announced today Andy Murray of Great Britain and Angelique Kerber of Germany as the 2016 ITF World Champions. Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares of Brazil were crowned as Men’s Doubles World Champions, while French pair Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic were honoured with Women’s Doubles World Champions.
This is the first time that two brothers have been named as men’s singles and men’s doubles World Champions in the same year.
In ITF Wheelchair World Champion, Gordon Reid becomes the third british player to be honoured in 2016, with Jiske Griffioen of Netherlands becoming women’s World Champion for the second year running. Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia and Anastasia Potapova of Russia have been named ITF Junior World Champions.
Murray sealed the year-end No. 1 ranking in the final match of the season after defeating his great rival Novak Djokovic to win the ATP World Tour Finals. He won a total of nine titles during a milestone year, including his second Wimbledon triumph, and became the first player in history to win two Olympic singles gold medals.
“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 No. 1 ranking in the last match of the season. It is particularly special with my brother Jamie also becoming World Champion.”, said Murray after being named the ITF World Champion.
Kerber becomes Germany’s first World Champion since Steffi Graf received the last of seven awards in 1996. The 28-year-old enjoyed a stunning season, defeating Serena Williams to capture her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, before going on to win the US Open.
Kerber seemed really honoured after being named the ITF champion for the first time in her career, “I’m 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’m looking forward to the upcoming challenges.”
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares clinched the year-end No. 1 team ranking in the very last event of 2016 at the ATP World Tour Finals. The British-Brazilian duo enjoyed a breakthrough first season together, capturing their first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, and going on to win the US Open.
Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic also enjoyed an outstanding first season together to end 2016 as the No. 1-ranked team, and help France reach the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final.
ITF President David Haggerty said: “Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber have both been rewarded for their hard work with exceptional years that see them worthy recipients of the ITF World Champion awards. Our two doubles World Champions, have shown impressive teamwork in their first season together."
Gordon Reid had an outstanding year to become the first British player to become Wheelchair World Champion. Reid expressed his views on his ITF glory, "It's a great honour for me to complete the best year of my career by finishing year-end No.1 for the first time. I can't thank all of my coaching team, family and friends enough for all their dedication and support, which was a vital part of my 2016 successes."
Jiske Griffioen is the only repeat ITF World Champion in 2016, collecting the women’s wheelchair honour for the second year and Miomir Kecmanovic, the first Serbian player to be named the ITF Junior World Champion.
The ITF World Champions will receive their awards at the 2017 ITF World Champions Dinner on Tuesday 6 June, in Paris, during Roland Garros. Nine of the ten players are being honoured for the first time.
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