tive, but knows his hearts in the right place.I prefer that

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PARIS -- For each top athlete, a word. Discount Rangers Jerseys . For Usain Bolt, it would have to be speed. For footballs Lionel Messi: balance. For swimmer Michael Phelps: buoyant. But for the new king of mens tennis, Andy Murray, a quality both mental and physical springs to mind: fortitude.Meanies would argue that Murray has taken over the No.1 ranking this week -- the first Briton to reach the summit -- only because the three players who were better than him for so long finally vacated it, a tennis equivalent of John, Paul and George giving Ringo a rare turn at the mic. And there is a modicum of truth in that.Roger Federer, the 17-time major champion who this week dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since October 2002, long had the measure of Murray, beating him in three Grand Slam finals, but is now a largely spent force at age 35.Rafael Nadals creaky ....... is paying the bill for his brand of nitro-power tennis that won him 14 major titles and the top ranking for a total of 141 weeks to July 2014. The 30-year-old hasnt won a major since then, or even made a semifinal, and has had injuries to both wrists. But his career Grand Slam record against Murray is unequivocal: seven wins in nine encounters, with the last defeat way back at the 2010 Australian Open.And the top dog Murray toppled, the now second-ranked Novak Djokovic, won five of his 12 major titles by beating the Scot in the final. If Djokovic can now regroup, rethink and re-motivate himself with new targets having completed his career Grand Slam this year and then suffering a dip, leaving the door ajar for Murray, then the reign of the new No. 1 could be short.The top ranking, then, doesnt change the fact that Murray is still only, a word that seems uncharitable in the circumstances, the fourth-best player in what has been modern tennis toughest era. But Murray may well be the most stubborn, the eras paragon of perseverance. Being the fourth member of the Big Four for so long could have broken players with less heart. He first got to the No. 2 ranking more than seven years ago and spent a total of 76 weeks there. Thats a long time to be waiting in the wings.But, in the end, Murray outlasted all-comers. He is the sailor who soldiered through storms that chased others back to harbor, the boxer repeatedly floored but never knocked out. He used the beatings he suffered from Federer, Nadal and Djokovic -- losing 20 of the 25 times he played them at the majors -- as reasons to keep improving himself. He could have cursed his luck, been led astray by the mirage that in any other decade, hed have won more than two Wimbledon titles and the U.S. Open by now. But instead Murray just worked even harder, took better care of himself and made sure that when the opportunity finally came, he was ready to seize it.It would be tempting to delve into Murrays past for signposts that explain his ascent to the top.One could argue that cutting his tennis teeth in inhospitable Scottish weather more suited to golf, rugby or football maybe toughened him up. As kids, he and brother Jamie would hit a balloon back and forth over rope hung from a radiator at home.One could also fall into psycho-babble and hazard a guess that surviving the slaughter of 16 children and their teacher by a gunman at his Dunblane Primary School in 1996 helped teach Murray about deep emotional pain and how to rebound from it.Or one could point to the teen-aged Murray who badgered his parents to send him to a tennis academy in Spain as evidence that hes never lacked drive and the willingness to make sacrifices.But more simply, the top ranking is reward for his journey. A long journey, with multiple crossroads where Murray could have turned back and convinced himself that Mounts Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were simply too steep.Instead, he kept climbing.Not the most eloquent of speakers, at least not in public, one phrase of Murrays stands out, delivered after he lost to Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon final.Im going to try this, and its not going to be easy, Murray said, fighting back tears.Specifically, he was talking about how difficult it was to deliver his losers speech to the supportive Center Court crowd.But that philosophy -- not easy and try -- is Murray in a nutshell.---John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester(at)ap.org or follow him at http://twitter.com/johnleicester Rangers Jerseys Outlet . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Wholesale Rangers Jerseys . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. http://www.cheaprangersjerseyschina.com/ . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. A lot of factors are behind Sydney FC being unbeaten and seven points clear on top of the A-League but coach Graham Arnold feels none are more important than goalkeeper Danny Vukovic.Vukovic again starred in Saturday nights 4-1 win over Perth Glory in Perth with two spectacular saves to deny Rostyn Griffiths and Adam Taggart.Sydney have conceded five goals in 11 games and Arnold is full of praise for the exploits of his keeper.Danny Vukovic for me is the best goalkeeper in the country. Weve only conceded five goals all season and hes had a major role to play in that, Arnold said.Its always good to have a goalkeeper that saves you points, but also that the players in front have a huge amount of belief and confidence in that they know it will take a good goal to get past him.Vukovic has never been shy of letting his teammates know when hes not happy and he delivered a tirade to Michael Zullo against Perth. Arnold would prefer he was a little less demonstrative, but knows his hearts in the right place.I prefer that we speak about it but hes an emotional guy and a winner. If he sees something out there thats not right, I cant fix it on the sideline but he can straightaway, he said.Well talk about it, but we have such a great group of boyys and such great team spirit where all the guys socialise together with families that are close. Cheap Rangers Jerseys. The main goal is to win and to be successful.Captain Alex Brosque was again impressive scoring a classy goal in the 21st minute and delivering the cross for Filip Holosko to put the Sky Blues up 2-1. Arnold is delighted with his form and leadership.He is just such a fantastic leader now, Arnold said.When I made him captain two years ago the armband probably didnt sit that comfortably on his arm, but you see the passion the guy has now and the way he works and leads from the front.Bernie Ibini again came off the bench earning and converting a penalty. Arnold only expects to give him more minutes as he works back from a devastating broken leg.Bernies pushing me hard now. Theres not many players in Australia who excite the fans like he can and hes a handful, and once he gets into open space, hes frightening, Arnold said.I actually think hes stronger than what he was when I had him with the Mariners and in the first year at Sydney. 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