On This Day: Muster makes No. 1 debut in 1996

Thomas Muster quickly established himself in the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings within four years of turning pro. In 1989, he assured himself of a Top 10 debut by coming from two sets down to beat Yannick Noah in the semi-finals of the Miami ATP Masters 1000 — but he never got to play the final.

Hit while searching his parked car by a drunk driver hours after that match, he was left with severed tendons in his left knee and flew back to his native Austria for surgery. More than five months later — after continuing to train by hitting balls sitting in a special chair, with his left leg still in a cast — he made his return in Barcelona. More than six years later, at the age of 28, he reached No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings on 12 February 1996.

“I don’t know how many people can say that, measurably, they have been No. 1 at something, the best in the world,” Muster said. “I loved that moment.”

His rise to the top came on the strength of 12 tour-level titles in 1995, a tally tied with Roger Federer for most in ATP Tour history. Eleven of those trophies came on clay for Muster, a surface on which he won 40 consecutive matches en route to a 65-2 record that season.

Long before Rafael Nadal ascended to the throne, Muster was the undisputed ‘King of Clay’ at his peak. He won his lone career major title at Roland Garros in 1995, as well as ATP Masters 1000s in Monte-Carlo, Rome and Essen — the latter on carpet, showcasing his versatility.

Muster’s Essen title run went through Pete Sampras, who overtook him for No. 1 after a single week in 1996. The Austrian returned to the summit for an additional five weeks in March on the heels of his fourth consecutive title on the clay of Mexico City. During his second run at No. 1, he added his second straight Estoril title.