PARIS: Andy Murray was confirmed on Monday as the first British player to climb as high as number three in the world rankings surpassing both Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.

The Scot, who will turn 22 on Friday, moved ahead of Serbian rival Novak Djokovic despite losing in the first round of his last tournament in Rome.

The reason for that was that Murray had very few points to defend in the clay-court season having struggled with injury last year, while Djokovic had many points to defend.

Both players are in the line-up for the Madrid Masters this week.

A strong performance from Murray there followed by a good French Open at the end of the month could even see him threaten Roger Federer for the number two spot in the world rankings.

World top 20:

1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 15360 pts

2. Roger Federer (SUI) 10170

3. Andy Murray (GBR) 8990 (+1)

4. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8920 (-1)

5. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 4720

6. Andy Roddick (USA) 4040

7. Gilles Simon (FRA) 4030 (+1)

8. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 3900 (-1)

9. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 3455

10. Gakl Monfils (FRA) 3310

11. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 3265

12. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 2945

13. David Ferrer (ESP) 2645 (+1)

14. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2635 (+1)

15. David Nalbandian (ARG) 2455 (+4)

16. James Blake (USA) 2370

17. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 2350 (+1)

18. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 2135 (-5)

19. Radek Stepanek (CZE) 2090 (-2)

20. Marat Safin (RUS) 2015