Andy Murray could be Britain's greatest ever sportsman with No 1 ranking, says Mark Petchey

Becoming world No 1 would make Andy Murray Britain's greatest ever sportsman, according to Mark Petchey.

Murray is within striking distance of the summit after triumphing in the Erste Bank Open in Vienna on Sunday.

If Murray wins the Paris Masters this week - which you __can watch live on Sky Sports - and current world No 1 Novak Djokovic does not reach the final, Murray will become the oldest player to reach the ranking summit since John Newcombe in 1974.

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Sky Sports' tennis expert Petchey, who coached Murray during the early stage of the Scot's career, said: "I think it would be his greatest ever achievement. It would be amazing because it's remarkably difficult to do. 

"When you think of all the things he has to deal with; the different surfaces he has to play well on, playing well in a sprint version of the sport - three sets as well as five sets - and he also has opponents that __can upset the way he plays. 

"If you look at his week in Vienna; he played left-handers, he played big servers like John Isner, grinders like Giles Simon, he could have played David Ferrer, who is an attacking base-liner, and then Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - an inspirational player - in the final.

"So to overcome all of that and become world No 1, with Djokovic so far ahead at the start of the season, mentally that would just be an amazing achievement.

"Because it's my sport I think it would make him, in my opinion, the greatest ever sports person in Britain."

Murray has pointed to an increased consistency in his game as being a major factor behind his surge, but Petchey has given praise to coaches Ivan Lendl and Jamie Delgado for perfecting the 29-year-old's serve.

Murray beat Jo-Wilfired Tsonga in the Vienna final on Sunday

"With the confidence he has, his first service has been very good over the last three tournaments, but I think also one of the big differences for him this year has been his second serve," Petchey added.

"I think Ivan Lendl coming back in as coach (has been a factor) and Jamie Delgado has just done a wonderful job week-in, week-out with Andy. Particularly after Wimbledon and heading towards the Olympics, there was a lot of hard work done in Majorca, and Andy didn't take his foot off the gas there.

"Those little tweaks to his service have definitely made a difference to him. Coupled with the confidence he has gained throughout the season, lifting these trophies, he's virtually unstoppable the way he is playing."