Andy Murray has claimed that he is determined to finish the year on a high in order to overtake Novak Djokovic as the world's number one player.

The three-time Grand Slam winner is closing in on his rival thanks to an impressive season to date, including victories on home soil at Wimbledon and a second success at the Olympics.

Djokovic has endured mixed form to date, meanwhile, and has been forced to withdraw from next week's China Open in Beijing due to an elbow injury which could allow Murray to further close the gap.

"Trying to reach number one is a goal," Murray told BBC Sport. "I've never been [top]. It's something I would like to do for the first time, which is maybe more of a motivation for me than some of the guys that have been there before.

"But I want to just try and finish this year strong from a personal point of view. It's been my best season to date, and I want to try to finish it as best as I can."

Murray will face Andreas Seppi - a player currently ranked at number 94 in the world - in the first round of the China Open.