pectively.It is hard going against Jack [Freestone] because I watched him grow

Andy Murrays rise to the top of the rankings this fall has been a surprising tale containing numerous improbable elements. So its hardly shocking to discover that in his own eyes, not playing has had as much to do with Murrays spectacular results as his exploits on the court.Ive managed my rest and recovery periods much better, Murray told ESPNs Darren Cahill on Friday, following Murrays tidy, 6-4, 6-2 win against Stan Wawrinka in the final round of round-robin play in the ATP World Tour Finals. In the past, after a tournament or a loss, I would get right back out there on the court to play, or to practice.Its different now. After Murray won the Paris Masters 1000, he explained he resisted the impulse to pick up a racket for four days during the week before the World Tour Finals. He also laid aside his sticks for a week after he won the Shanghai Masters. It could not have been an easy decision for Murray to take, because he owes a great deal of his success to his work ethic.Murray has a well-earned reputation as a workaholic. If youve known anyone like that, you know how much comfort they take in the sheer act of working. How secure it makes them feel. But what if the work isnt paying off, or its become just a hedge against feeling inadequate?Changing his work habits could not have been an easy decision for Murray to make. But he took the plunge. The successful result is further proof of Murrays reputation as a man who has left no stone unturned in his quest for greatness. In having the confidence and poise to try that somewhat counter-intuitive change, the 29-year-old Scot set himself up to equal the best winning streak of his career (22 matches) with this win over Wawrinka. More importantly, Murray positioned himself for a showdown with Novak Djokovic this weekend for the year-end No. 1 ranking.I feel good, Murray said, despite a season workload that has produced a 76-9 singles record and eight titles. Obviously, Ive played a lot, but my body is just conditioned to matches.Murrays mind is similarly steeled to the task at hand. It can be dispiriting to be frowned upon by the gods of the draw while a rival seems to get a path to a semi or final as slick as a luge run. This week, the seemingly smooth ride was offered to Djokovic, whose cumulative record against the three other men in his round-robin portion was a perfect 23-0.That might have been especially discouraging for Murray, because of his already mediocre record at the O2 Arena coming in. Despite having nine previous chances to crack the World Tour Finals code, he was just 11-11 -- and never a finalist. His own draw this year was brutal: Murray was 27-12 against Marin Cilic, Kei Nishikori and Wawrinka.But Murray did more than survive; he flourished. He made a powerful statement in locking down the three Ws in round-robin play this year, because hes also been forced to march in lockstep with Djokovic all the way. Whoever does better in this tournament will take that grand prize, the top ranking.Murrays win against Wawrinka was deft, swift and critical. He accomplished it in 1 hour, 25 minutes, avoiding the kind of knockdown, drag-out battle he survived with Nishikori in the second round. It means Murray, who unlike Djokovic will not get a day off before the semifinals, ought to recover more easily and have sufficient spring in his legs.Murray is entitled to feel like hes gotten over the hump, even though his job is far from finished. He seems to have come to grips with the pressure he faces from his fellow British countrymen annually at the O2 arena. He also has a right to feel hes got the upper hand on his three potential rivals, starting with Saturdays semifinal opponent, Milos Raonic.If Murrays success makes Djokovic slightly uneasy or makes him wish he were better prepared for the semifinals, its an earned bonus.Murray was a juggernaut entering this event, and he remains one just two matches from its conclusion. On Friday, Murray broke a string during the first point of the final game. He played on, hitting three slice backhands, a lob and a slice approach before Wawrinka ended the point with a passing-shot winner. Its almost unheard of for a player to construct such a point through so many shots with a racket thats essentially unraveling in his hand.But thats the kind of year Murray has had, and its difficult not to read the incident as an omen. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Miles-Killebrew-Draft-Jersey/ . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Nevin-Lawson-Draft-Jersey/ . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Devon-Kennard-Draft-Jersey/ . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Michael-Roberts-Draft-Jersey/ . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. http://www.officiallionsgear.com/Lions-Levine-Toilolo-Draft-Jersey/ . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Australian Matt Wilkinsons world surfing title hopes received a boost as he narrowly survived a do-or-die second-round battle at the Tahiti Pro.Championship leader Wilkinson was the first in the water on day two and produced two stellar rides to advance out of his high-quality heat against qualifier Hira Teriinatoofa.In relatively small one-metre waves at the Teahupoo break, Wilkinsons rides of 8.00 and 6.17 were enough to ensure a 0.67-point victory.Going in this morning, I knew it was small and slow, but when they come, there are still some beautiful tubes, Wilkinson said.I wanted to put some pressure on him. I got that one set that sealed the deal, so I am stoked.Hell now attempt to advance out of the third round for just second time in seven visits to Teahupoo when he again takes on 2008 Tahiti winner and qualifier Bruno Santos of Brazil, who beat him in round one.Fellow title contender and defending world champion Adriano de Souza wont advance though, after he was beaten by Brazilian Alex Ribeiro in a low-scoring heat.Brazils Felipe Toledo was another big-name casualty on the second day of compettition, beaten by compatriot Jason Andrew, as he struggled to a combined score of just 6.dddddddddddd.63.The news was good for Australia though, with Julian Wilson and Matt Banting each winning through the sudden-death second round.Wilson survived a late scare from fellow Australian Ryan Callinan, whose last-ditch ride of 5.33 fell just 0.34 points short of forcing an upset.Former world champion Joel Parkinson and Josh Kerr also won through in all-Australian heats against youngster Jack Freestone and Stuart Kennedy respectively.It is hard going against Jack [Freestone] because I watched him grow up and climb through the ranks, Parkinson said.He is someone who I hope to pass the baton to, push and watch him do well.Davey Cathels was the only other Australian not to advance to the third round, narrowly beaten by Nat Young of the USA.Adrian Buchan, Adam Melling and Kai Otton had previously qualified for the third round after winning their first-round heats on the opening day. 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