"Andy is doing everything to get Novak," Bautista Agut said. "If he continues playing like this and working like that, I think I can see it in his eyes, no? He's really focused on getting No. 1."

Bautista Agut had just been on the end of Murray's 10th consecutive win in a fabulous fortnight in China, the 29-year-old dual Wimbledon and Olympic champion continuing what he regards as a career-best three months by claiming consecutive titles in Beijing and Shanghai without dropping a set.

Now within 915 points of Djokovic (10,600 points to 9685) on the calendar-year Race to London standings, Murray is attempting to become the first British player – and the oldest man since John Newcombe in 1974 – to reach the rankings summit, having achieved multiple not-since-the-1930s national milestones since his 2012 US Open breakthrough.

Murray will contest the 500-level event in Vienna next week, when Djokovic has no plans to compete. The season ends with the Paris Masters 1000 and the ATP World Tour Finals from November 13-20 in London, where the world order could well be rearranged.

"I – for sure – have a chance just now," Murray said after his 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 defeat of 15th seed Bautista Agut to win his third Shanghai Rolex Masters crown.

"I'm just still aware how difficult it is going to be to get there. I still have to win three, four tournaments. That's not an easy thing to do.

"I have never had success like I have had the last few months in my career, so, you know, to keep that going, I'm aware it's going to be a difficult thing to do.

"I need to keep myself motivated and be smart with my schedule and my time off, as well. But I believe I can get there.

"These last few months have proved that to me. I may never get another chance to be No.1, so I'll give it my best shot to do that while I have the opportunity."

Murray's recent excellence has coincided with the return of coach Ivan Lendl, as part of an old/new team also containing former British Davis Cup player Jamie Delgado. He had a strong clay-court season, but never has he played better than in the period since.

"Obviously having Ivan back on my team helped during that period. And winning Wimbledon was really a big boost to my confidence after I had had quite a few tough losses in the slams the last few years. That kind of gave me a lot more belief in myself that I could win the major competitions again."

Yet Murray is still gazing into the middle-distance, at least publicly, insisting that early in 2017 is his more realistic opportunity to dethrone the year-end king in four of the past five years. He did not play at all in February, following the birth of his daughter Sophia, then won only two matches combined in the Indian Wells and Miami Masters events. Djokovic won both titles, plus the Australian Open, so has far more to defend.

"So that's the period of the year where I have the opportunity to gain and add quite a lot of points or I'm not defending anything," Murray said. "I think that's the time that's most realistic, because although points-wise it's possible to do it this year. Novak is going to win a lot of matches between now and the end of the year. I'm aware of that, and I expect that to happen. So there is more chance to do it next year, I think."