Barring an incredible set of results this week in Paris, Andy Murray will be in the eight-man field for next month's ATP World Tour Finals in London and there will be no question that he deserves it.
His 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 victory over Tommy Robredo in the Valencia final gave him his third title in five weeks, his 31st overall, and moved him up to fifth in the Race to London, virtually, if not quite officially, assured of his spot in London.
In theory, he could yet need a couple of wins in the French capital to ensure his place in London but in reality it would require a highly unlikely series of events to deny him his place. Realising he needed points - and matches for his confidence - he has made the absolute most of his decision to take late wildcards in Vienna and Valencia.
And having edged out David Ferrer in a gruelling encounter only 24 hours before, Murray showed incredible competitive spirit and will-power to get himself through a match that had everything as he broke Robredo's heart for the second time in a month.
By the end of their three-hour, 20-minute clash, both men could barely walk, beaten and battered after some incredible hitting and true drama as Robredo, for the second time in five weeks, missed five match points in a final against Murray.
After Murray crunched a backhand winner down the line to clinch victory, the Scot fell to the court in exhaustion and by the time he had hauled himself to the net, he was greeted with a "double bird" by a smiling Robredo, who could barely believe what had happened.
To miss five match points once could be described as careless; to do so a second time is downright cruel. So when Murray stood facing his fifth match point in the deciding tiebreak, having done the same against Robredo in the final in Shenzhen just over a month ago, he had him exactly where he wanted him.
"It was an unbelievable match," Murray said. "The tennis at the end and in the second set was high level but I just played well at the right moments. He's a great fighter, he's what, 32, in unbelievable shape, he's still improving and has a great work ethic. I don't know what else to say but I have a lot of respect for you and sorry about today."
The Spaniard is one of those players who seems to be better when he's on the run, able to pull off outrageous winners from extreme positions on the court. And while he did that time and time, Murray missed the lines by centimetres and he could have been forgiven if he had given up the ghost as Robredo pressed late in the second set. But when Murray's mind is in the right place, he refuses to give in and he saved two match points to win the tiebreak 9-7 and force a decider.
At 5-4, Murray forced a match point of his own but was denied by Robredo's brilliance and when the match went to a deciding tiebreak, the Spaniard looked to have the edge, despite cramp seeping through his body.
But three times when he held match point, Murray came up with some incredible retrieving and seemingly nerveless play to deny him again, again and again. Finally, at 9-8, and after yet another long rally, Murray thundered a backhand down the line for a winner, before collapsing in exhaustion, relief and exhilaration.
Robredo's reaction was a picture - a photographer's delight. "It was an amazing match, and you have to enjoy it," he said. "It was decided by a few balls. It is what it is."
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