Dream Final, Battle for No.1, Set in London

After winning all three of his matches in Group John McEnroe, Murray progressed to the semi-final where he claimed victory over Milos Raonic in a thrilling 3hr 38min showdown.

The Serb later demolished Kei Nishikori in the other semi-final, setting up a season-ending scrap for the top spot that will have had Sky Sports and the tournament director licking their lips like kids in a sweet shop.

Big-serving Raonic had a match point in the final exchanges of a spellbinding three hour 38 minute battle of wills but like world number one Murray’s last 23 opponents found the Briton an impossible riddle to solve. The match everybody anticipated.

Djokovic was never tested by Nishikori. I’m privileged to be part of the history.

“My level had been going in the right direction”. This is the first time in his career that the Canadian Raonic has reached the last four of this event, and the 25 year old smacks a victor to make it 5-4 for the Scot. But now that I’ve got there, I obviously would be motivated to try and stay in that position. Djokovic had breezed past Kei Nishikori, 6-1, 6-1, his last-four tie.

Murray, bidding to win the Tour Finals for the first time in his maiden final appearance, acknowledged he is feeling the strain of his gruelling run.

“Obviously tomorrow is the last day for a while, I get a break after that”.

“I played some great points and managed to get the break at the end”, said Murray. Andy is clearly No 1 in the world, he’s the best player. “It’s something I genuinely never expected to do”, Murray said afterward. I started with a great pace, great concentration, dictating the play, mixing up the pace. “I was very exhausted last night before I went to bed and just wanted to go out and give everything I had”.

And the jitters kept coming too, Murray boasting three Championship points as Djokovic refused to give in, a second serve eventually coming back too far to bring to an end the 12-year, three-strong stranglehold of world tennis.

In an incredible finish, Murray was on the cusp of victory when he broke for 5-4 and 6-5 leads in the final set.

When Djokovic beat Murray to win the French Open and hold all four grand slam trophies, it seemed inconceivable he would not finish the year number one.

Even though Nishikori broke back in the fifth game, Djokovic returned the favour in the sixth game before going on to clinch the first set.

Murray dropped his racket and held his arms aloft with a look of mild astonishment on his face before embracing Djokovic at the net.

Despite winning the opening two Grand Slam tournaments this year, Djokovic has struggled in the second half of the season.