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The Rise, Fall, and Second Wind: The roller coaster ride of Andy Murray

By Brandon Daniels

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Andy Murray of Great Britain acknowledges the crowd as he celebrates victory after the Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan on day one of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Andy Murray of Great Britain acknowledges the crowd as he celebrates victory after the Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan on day one of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /
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Britain’s Andy Murray returns a shot to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco during their final match at the St.Petersburg Open tennis tournament 28 Ocotober 2007. Murray defeated Verdasco 6-2, 6-3. AFP PHOTO / EVGENIY ASMOLOV (Photo credit should read EVGENIY ASMOLOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Britain’s Andy Murray returns a shot to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco during their final match at the St.Petersburg Open tennis tournament 28 Ocotober 2007. Murray defeated Verdasco 6-2, 6-3. AFP PHOTO / EVGENIY ASMOLOV (Photo credit should read EVGENIY ASMOLOV/AFP via Getty Images) /

2005-2007: A star in the making

Andy Murray turned pro in 2005 and quickly aimed his sights at the game’s very best. He moved up 347 spots in the ATP rankings, going from 411th to 64th in that year alone.

The young Brit continued his rise the following year. After only a year on tour, he won his first title at the SAP Open in February, defeating Robin Soderling, defending champion Andy Roddick, and Lleyton Hewitt in consecutive matches to take the title. After reaching the finals of the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, Murray broke into the top 20 for the first time in his career and ended 2006 as World #17.

2007 was another step up for Murray as he won two titles and reached the finals of two more. After reaching the finals in Doha to start the year and defended his title shortly after in San Jose. Murray took home the St. Petersburg title in October with a straight-sets victory over Fernando Verdasco. April marked the first time Murray appeared in the top ten and despite a slip-up prior to October, he finished 11th in the world rankings by the end of the year.

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