Andy Murray has claimed that he is "too young" to be considered for a knighthood after being tipped for the honour following an impressive year that will end with him as the world's number one player.
The 29-year-old put the icing on the cake last weekend by beating Novak Djokovic, the man he usurped to climb to the top of the standings, in straight sets at London's O2 Arena.
That victory for Murray meant success in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals for the first time, bringing the curtain down on a campaign that also saw him collect a second Wimbledon crown and retain his Olympic title.
A run of 24 games without defeat has led to talk of a knighthood for the British ace in the New Year's Honours list, but he believes that there is still work to be done before it can be truly considered.
"Obviously it is the highest honour you can get in this country," he is quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard. "I don't know, I feel too young for something like that.
"I don't think about that stuff much, really. When I win any award or am presented with anything it is nice because it is recognition for what you have given your life to, up to now anyway.
"I am still young and there are still a lot of things that can go wrong, I could still mess up and make mistakes. Do stuff wrong. I am just trying to keep doing what I am doing, working hard, and achieving stuff."
Murray is the heavy favourite to come out on top in next month's BBC Sports Personality of the Year, with Alistair Brownlee and Mo Farah providing the strongest competition.