The verdict on magic Murray and their most memorable moments revisited
Monday 21 November 2016 12:52, UK
Marcus Buckland, Barry Cowan, Annabel Croft, Peter Fleming, Barry Millns, Mark Petchey, Greg Rusedski and Leif Shiras give their final verdict on a drama-filled ATP World Tour Finals which saw world No 1 Andy Murray crowned the best player on the planet.
Murray produced an imperious display to defeat Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 and win the season-ending extravaganza at London's O2 Arena on Sunday.
The 29-year-old's first Tour Finals title came with the hugely significant bonus of ensuring that he remained above Djokovic in the year-end rankings and can finally claim he is the best player on the planet.
So what do the Sky Sports Tennis team make of Murray's marvellous achievement? We asked each of the experts to sum up Sunday's historic final and pick out one memorable moment from what's been a blockbuster week of action in the capital.
The final verdict
Unbelievable, unpredictable, extraordinary. I'm going to run out of adjectives and superlatives, but not what many people expected. Incredible nonetheless.
Marcus' memorable moment
If I had to pick one moment - aside from getting into the ice bath with Annabel - it's actually that extraordinary point that Andy played at 3-1 in the second set tie-break against Milos Raonic. That unbelievable little dink between his legs that kept him going ultimately to an amazing victory there, and to the glory that followed just 24 hours later.
The final verdict
It's ended in a remarkable year. I think it's a fantastic advert for the sport that we've had two great champions battle it out. It's always great to be part of history and Andy's run was fitting it ended like that for him.
Barry's memorable moment
I think the end. The last game reminded me so much of the Wimbledon final. When clearly he was still nervous, he was still able to hold his nerve, and that's the sign of a champion.
The final verdict
It feels as if we've witnessed a really, really special occasion. I don't think anybody could believe that Andy Murray could dig into some reserves that we didn't think would be there after the tennis that he's had to come through in the course of the week. He said himself that when he woke up he felt pretty terrible and he didn't know how he was going to be able to play the way he did. Andy was rock solid, he served well, and I just think it topped off what has been a special year. Everyone feels that he is the true world No 1.
Annabel's memorable moment
That tie-break against Milos Raonic in the third set. I was courtside and it was unbelievable tension and nerves, passion, drama. It was an extraordinary match that will live long in the memory. I'm never going to forget that match and I cannot believe he was able to bounce back the next day, after three hours and 38 minutes, and be able to beat the former dominant world No 1. But he really, really deserves it. He's in such a great place and has become the most overwhelmingly popular champion.
The final verdict
Two weeks ago, when Murray won Paris and we thought it could possibly come down to the two best players playing in the final here for the world No 1, it was a great prospect and the final was even more exciting than we could have hoped for. What Murray showed there was a great illustration of the human spirit. And he showed his fighting spirit, making a mockery of the physical travails he's had this week. He was fantastic.
Fleming's memorable moment
It was the entire final, from start to finish. Murray was resolute, he was aggressive, he just kept going putting fatigue out of his mind, and at the very end, until the very last point, you had no idea - or certainly I wasn't confident - he was actually going to win, but he kept the pressure on to finish the job.
The final verdict
This was the dream final, but did we dream that this would ever happen? A first British finalist in these championships and to play in the way he did as the world No 1, like the world No 1, he quite rightly goes into 2017 as the world No 1. It was brilliant.
Millns' memorable moment
The first moment I thought that he was fine was against Stan Wawrinka, when he came out and attacked him when he was being attacked, and for me that was the aggression we needed from Murray. From that moment, I thought he was on his way. You cannot underline how great an achievement this is. He should be so proud of what he's done.
The final verdict
I was super impressed with the way Andy was able to handle himself out there. There was no room for any kind of errors and he almost had to do it in two sets, just because of what happened the day before. He changed his game, way more aggressive, served huge. It validates all the hard work Andy does in Miami, which was probably the main reason, and his incredible work ethic, why he won.
Petch's memorable moment
The tie-breaker against Milos in the third. It was just ridiculous drama given what was on the line knowing that if he lost the match he was going to lose his chance to be year-end No 1. Just that whole 25 minutes or whatever it was. From serving for it from 5-4 to having match point twice and then being match point down - that period there was just like a tennis story between two great players, everything mattered. That's why I watch the sport; that's why I love it.
The final verdict
Superhuman performance from Andy Murray. I mean, incredible. Most of the pundits thought Djokovic was going to win and I thought Djokovic was going to win because I didn't think Murray was going to recover. He stayed calm, he was aggressive, he did everything right and the belief is immense. For me, personally, this is his greatest performance. Might not have been the greatest tennis, but to end the season No 1 is phenomenal. Probably our greatest sportsman in my lifetime here in Britain.
VOTE: Who is Britain's greatest sportsperson currently competing
Greg's memorable moment
I'd say that last game. Djokovic has to save two match points, gets to deuce, and then Ivan Lendl puts his finger to his mouth and says keep it quiet there Andy. He keeps it quiet, finishes it off and ends the season world No 1. The mental strength, the physical work - I mean, you just don't realise what he's accomplished: 24 matches in a row, five tournaments and beating the second best player on the planet. We've never seen this in tennis before, so history is made and history is made by Murray.
The final verdict
I thought it was an amazing performance from Murray. Every time, he was able to call on that resource of energy, to call on that adrenaline, to do what he can do best, and that was to put balls in play, to work the points, and Novak just didn't have any answers. Murray just locked it in tight, refused to give any errors and then was aggressive on the forehand, which was the game plan that coach Ivan Lendl wanted to instill in him.
Leif's memorable moment
I hate to think there was anything better than match point taken by Murray. The atmosphere in this building was absolutely electric. I've been to a lot of great moments, at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open, and Wimbledon had some great moments, but this was pretty special. To see Andy and this crowd come together was pretty special.
We'll be back in 2017, but in the meantime you can follow us skysports.com/tennis, or our app for mobile devices and iPad and our Twitter account @skysportstennis.
By purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices.
