Andy Murray is the best tennis player in the world, according to his coach Ivan Lendl.
The Scot finally ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's singles champion at Wimbledon on Sunday, beating Novak Djokovic in three gruelling sets US Open triumph.
He remains a distant second to Djokovic in the ATP's official world rankings, though it is not impossible he could close the near 3,000-point gap to the Serbian by the end of the year.
Murray and Lendl at the Wimbledon winners' ball on Sunday
But Lendl believes 26-year-old Murray's major double, as well as his Olympic gold medal, makes him the man to beat.
"Every champion knows how many majors they won," said Lendl. "Nobody remembers how many weeks they were number one.
"Novak is a great player, don't get me wrong. He has had a phenomenal last 12 months [and] basically since the start of 2011, so the rankings look at all of that.
"[But] if somebody has two majors and an Olympic gold medal, and everybody else [holds] only one major, everybody can make their own opinion on that."
Andy Murray
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Wimbledon winner Andy Murray arrives outside 10 Downing Street before attending a cross-party reception in the garden, Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Prime Minister David Cameron greets Wimbledon winner Andy Murray outside 10 Downing Street before attending a cross-party reception in the garden, Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Prime Minister David Cameron greets Wimbledon winner Andy Murray outside 10 Downing Street before attending a cross-party reception in the garden, Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Prime Minister David Cameron greets Wimbledon winner Andy Murray outside 10 Downing Street before attending a cross-party reception in the garden, Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Prime Minister David Cameron greets Wimbledon winner Andy Murray outside 10 Downing Street before attending a cross-party reception in the garden, Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Prime Minister David Cameron greets Wimbledon winner Andy Murray outside 10 Downing Street before attending a cross-party reception in the garden, Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Prime Minister David Cameron greets Wimbledon winner Andy Murray outside 10 Downing Street before attending a cross-party reception in the garden, Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Prime Minister David Cameron greets Wimbledon winner Andy Murray outside 10 Downing Street before attending a cross-party reception in the garden, Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Andy Murray's father Will Murray arriving at 10 Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Andy Murray's Mother Judy arrives at 10 Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Wimbledon winner Andy Murray joins Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Prime Minister David Cameron, during a cross-party reception in the garden of Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
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Wimbledon winner Andy Murray joins (from left) Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Prime Minister David Cameron, labor leader Ed Miliband and SNP Westminster leader Angus Robinson during a cross-party reception in the garden of Downing Street, London l (credit:PA)
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Wimbledon winner Andy Murray joins (from left) Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Prime Minister David Cameron, labor leader Ed Miliband and SNP Westminster leader Angus Robinson during a cross-party reception in the garden of Downing Street, London l (credit:PA)
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Wimbledon winner Andy Murray joins (from left) Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Prime Minister David Cameron, labor leader Ed Miliband and SNP Westminster leader Angus Robinson during a cross-party reception in the garden of Downing Street, London l (credit:PA)
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Wimbledon winner Andy Murray joins (from left) Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Prime Minister David Cameron, labor leader Ed Miliband and SNP Westminster leader Angus Robinson during a cross-party reception in the garden of Downing Street, London l (credit:PA)
Scottish flag at Downing St.(16 of53)
Downing Street flying the Scottish Saltire to mark the occasion of Andy Murray playing in the Wimbledon final. (credit:PA)
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Wimbledon winner Andy Murray leaves 10 Downing Street with Simon Fuller (left), London. (credit:PA)
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Wimbledon winner Andy Murray leaves 10 Downing Street, London. (credit:PA)
Wimbledon Winner Andy Murray Photocall(19 of53)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain reads through the morning papers at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain reads through the morning papers at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Great Britain's Andy Murray with the Mens Single's Trophy during the photocall by the Fred Perry statue at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
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Great Britain's Andy Murray with the Mens Single's Trophy during the photocall by the Fred Perry statue at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
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Great Britain's Andy Murray with the Mens Single's Trophy during the photocall by the Fred Perry statue at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
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Great Britain's Andy Murray with the Mens Single's Trophy during the photocall by the Fred Perry statue at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (credit:PA)
Wimbledon Winner Andy Murray Photocall(25 of53)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Wimbledon Winner Andy Murray Photocall(26 of53)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain talks to the media at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain talks to the media at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain talks to the media at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Shirley and Roy Erskine, grandparents of Andy Murray, pose with the morning newspapers Monday July 8, 2013 at their home in Dunblane, Scotland after their grandson's Wimbledon victory on Centre Court on Sunday. Murray ended Britain's 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men's singles tennis champion with a 6-4 7-5 6-4 victory over Novak Djokovic. (AP Photo/Andrew Milligan, PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES (credit:AP)
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Shirley and Roy Erskine, grandparents of Andy Murray at their home in Dunblane, after their grandson's Wimbledon victory on Centre Court. (credit:PA)
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Shirley and Roy Erskine, grandparents of Andy Murray with their dog Penny at their home in Dunblane, after their grandson's Wimbledon victory on Centre Court. (credit:PA)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain talks to the media at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain talks to the media at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain talks to the media at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Wimbledon Winner Andy Murray Photocall(42 of53)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Wimbledon Winner Andy Murray Photocall(43 of53)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 08: Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy next to the Fred Perry statue at Wimbledon on July 8, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Performance manager for Tennis Scotland Karen Ross, coach children Shay Campbell (eight) and Michael Fyfe (nine, right) at Dunblane Sports Centre in Andy Murrary's home town after he won the Wimbledon men's title yesterday. (credit:PA)
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Head performance coach for Tennis Scotland Toby Smith and Performance manager for Tennis Scotland Karen Ross, coach children Shay Campbell (eight) and Michael Fyfe (nine, right) at Dunblane Sports Centre in Andy Murrary's home town after he won the Wimbledon men's title yesterday. (credit:PA)
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Stewart McClymont (second left) wuth fellow butchers celebrate in in Dunblane High Street , the home town of Andy Murray, after he won the men's Wimbledon championship. (credit:PA)
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Shirley and Roy Erskine, grandparents of Andy Murray as they look through this morning newspapers at their home in Dunblane, after their grandson's Wimbledon victory on Centre Court. (credit:PA)
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Three month old Evan Andrew Lupton has his picture taken on top of the gold post box in Dunblane High Street, the home town of Andy Murray, the new men's Wimbledon champion. (credit:PA)
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A woman looks at a cake of tennis player Andy Murray, commissioned by his sponsors RBS and made by Michelle Wibowo from West Sussex, as it sits in Dunblane High Street, the home town of the new men's Wimbledon champion. (credit:PA)
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Caroline Wilson pretends to kiss the cake of tennis player Andy Murray, commissioned by his sponsors RBS and made by Michelle Wibowo from West Sussex, as it sits in Dunblane High Street, the home town of the new men's Wimbledon champion. (credit:PA)
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Fans have their picture taken next to a cake of tennis player Andy Murray, commissioned by his sponsors RBS and made by Michelle Wibowo from West Sussex, as it sits in Dunblane High Street, the home town of the new men's Wimbledon champion. (credit:PA)
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Dunblane High Street, the home town of new men's Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. (credit:PA)
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Fans have their picture taken next to a cake of tennis player Andy Murray, commissioned by his sponsors RBS and made by Michelle Wibowo from West Sussex, as it sits in Dunblane High Street, the home town of the new men's Wimbledon champion. (credit:PA)
Murray has reached the final of the last four Grand Slams he has played in, having lost to Roger Federer at Wimbledon last year, defeating Djokovic at the US Open and losing to the Serb in this year's Australian Open.
Lendl, himself a seven-times slam winner, claims Murray's defeat to Federer, which the Scot labelled the "toughest moment" of his career, has galvanised the world number two.
"This one was more difficult to win because there was more pressure on Andy than there was at Flushing Meadows," he said.
"If he hadn't played last year's final then he wouldn't have been prepared that well [this time]. I think it was a great experience to have. Any time you play a major finals and you get that experience I think it's very important.
"My expectations were to do the best job I can to give Andy the best chances to win as many as he can. And that's pretty much what happened."