Monday 27 October 2014 10:45, UK
Andy Murray virtually assured himself of qualifying for the ATP World Tour Finals by battling to a 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (10-8) win over Tommy Robredo in the Valencia Open final.
Just like in the Shenzhen Open final between the two a month ago, the British No 1 saved five match points in a dramatic contest which lasted 3 hours 19 minutes.
The victory gives Murray 500 ranking points and moves him into the top non-qualified spot in the Race to London standings.
When you have to work hard for something it means more, you get more satisfaction from it.
Although it is possible that Murray could drop out of the qualifying places after next week’s Paris Masters, such a scenario would need the tournament in the French capital to play out in a very elaborate and improbable way.
"I know it was an incredible match. The tennis at the end and in the second set was high level. I played well at the right moments," Murray said.
"I don't know how I managed to come through it - I was very tired, Tommy was very tired as well. When you have to work hard for something it means more, you get more satisfaction from it.
"I kept fighting and it stands me in good stead for the end of this year and the beginning of next."
The win sealed the 31st ATP title of Murray’s career and was his third success in the space of a month. Before the current rich vein of form he had not won a tournament since last year’s Wimbledon.
Robredo showed he was up for a battle in the first set as he saved six break points while converting the only two chances he earned.
The Spaniard, playing in front of a home crowd, broke for the first time for a 4-3 lead and then wrapped up the set when Murray dropped serve again.
Murray responded by recording his first break of serve in the opening game of the second set, but the Spaniard stayed in it and eventually managed to level matters in the eighth game.
A tie-break was eventually needed to settle the set, with Murray coming back from the brink to save two match points before forcing a deciding set.
Both players looked to be in physical difficulty during the third set as the intense exertions seemed to be taking their toll.
But they still managed to produce a marathon deciding tie-break full of drama, Murray saving three more match points before finally wrapping up the win.
