The result mattered more than the manner of victory but Andy Murray got both things right yesterday as he sealed his place in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for the seventh consecutive year.
His 6-3, 6-3 win over Grigor Dimitrov sent the Scot into the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters and he cannot finish outside the top eight in the Race to London.
But more than anything, it was a display which sent a message that he means business at the O2.
In his sixth straight week of competition, a spell which has brought him three titles and moved him back up the rankings, Murray showed no sign of fatigue as he demolished Dimitrov's own London hopes. The Scot's 20th win in 22 matches came in brilliant fashion, with the British No.1 toying with the Bulgarian from the baseline and stepping in whenever he felt the need.
After equalling his best effort in Paris, Murray wrote on the camera: "Bad year", perhaps a riposte to those who questioned his appetite to get back to the top of the game following back surgery in September, 2013.
As he awaited the winner of last night's match between world No.1 Novak Djokovic and Frenchman Gael Monfils - a match which the Serb would triumph in 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) - Murray reflected on his achievement of making the season-ending event in London yet again.
"Since the French Open I think I've played well," he said. "In the slams this year, I lost against some of the best players that have ever played the game; Roger [Federer] in Australia, Rafa at the French Open and Novak in the US Open.
"I just needed to get some matches against top players and I've done that, so after a tough surgery and a tough beginning of the year."
Dimitrov defeated a below-par Murray at Wimbledon but the world No.11 was never given a sniff yesterday. "There were no 'downs' really in the match," Murray said. "The best players capitalise on those moments.
"I didn't have any of them today. I played well from start to finish. I made it very difficult for Grigor. I hardly made any mistakes at all throughout the match."
Defeat for an ailing Stan Wawrinka by Kevin Anderson yesterday means that a Murray title in Paris would put him back into the world's top four.
"If I want to get ahead of Stan, Novak, Roger and Rafa I'm going to have to play some great tennis the next few months. Hopefully I can do that," Murray said.
Kei Nishikori defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to move to the verge of becoming the sixth qualifier for London, while David Ferrer kept his nose in front of Milos Raonic in the race for the final spot at the event at the O2.
Federer kept the pressure on Djokovic in the battle for world No.1 spot, easing past Lucas Pouille of France 6-4, 6-4. Djokovic did not enjoy quite as straightforward a victory against Monfils, but still triumphed in a tie-break in the second set, clinching the set and the match 7-6 (7-2).
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