• ATP Tour

Del Potro tips Murray for No. 1 push

ESPN staff
March 20, 2013
Juan Martin Del Potro feels Andy Murray could be fighting for top spot in the rankings during the grass court season © Getty Images
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Juan Martin Del Potro believes Andy Murray has all the right ingredients to be world No. 1.

The Argentine, fresh off the back of reaching the BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells last week, feels Murray will be battling for top spot in the world rankings this season.

The British No. 1 is currently third in the rankings, behind record 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, and achieved a career-high second back in 2009.

Murray claimed his maiden major by defeating Djokovic at last year's US Open and won the gold medal at London 2012 in what proved to be his most successful campaign.

And it is on the back of the Scot's breakthrough season in 2012 that Del Potro insists Murray has the tools to be the best ranked player in the world, saying Queen's and Wimbledon will be the time where he could make his move.

"Murray is a big champion, he already won a grand slam, he made the finals in Australia [Australian Open] and he has everything he needs to be at the top in the future," Del Potro, US Open champion of 2009, said.

"He will be fighting for the No. 1 place this year and he can take a big opportunity in the grass season."

Del Potro knocked out Murray in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells by coming from a set down. He then defeated Djokovic in the semi-finals by repeating the feat, but fell to Rafael Nadal at the final hurdle in the opening Masters 1000 event of the season.

Del Potro confirmed on Tuesday he will be joining Murray at the AEGON Championships at Queen's Club this year, and revealed he has eyes on triumphing at Wimbledon.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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