Andy Murray kept his hopes of ending the year as world No.1 firmly alive after reaching the ATP World Tour final following a pulsating three-set victory over Milos Raonic.
Murray needed a tournament-record three hours and 38 minutes to get past the Canadian in a thriller at London’s O2 Arena, eventually prevailing 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (11-9) after a final-set tie-break.
That win sends the Scot through to Sunday’s final for the first time, with either Kei Nishikori or Novak Djokovic his opponent the other side of the net.
"I played some great points and managed to get the break at the end,” said Murray.
"It was an amazing atmosphere. The longer the match went on the louder the crowd got. This is what we play for. Matches like this and arenas like this. This is one of hardest matches I've played indoors.
"I didn't expect to play a long one with someone with a serve like Milos. I'm tired. I've played so much tennis over the last few months. I'll give it my best effort - the best of what I have."
In a repeat of this year’s Wimbledon final, it was Raonic who enjoyed the better of the first set, getting the break in the 11th game of the match, the two-time Olympic gold medallist struggling with his first serve.
But Murray fought back, leaving Raonic to hold off two break points early in the second set, but it was the world No.4 who was able to make his own break, leaving the Brit 5-7 1-2 in arrears.
It was a second-set lead that wasn’t to last long however, Murray immediately hitting four consecutive points to break to love, a crushing forehand the decisive blow as he took the momentum forward.
But the energy wasn’t to lead to any further damage for the 29-year-old, Raonic’s baseline work taking the set to a tie-breaker in the capital.
And despite his 4-1 lead, Murray was pegged back to 5-5, then finishing the set off in thrilling circumstances with a backhand volley.
By then the match had already spanned more than 140 minutes, but the two continued to impress, trading service games right through to 4-4.
And while Murray broke to leave a chance to serve for the match, fatigue ultimately set in as Raonic broke back, the pair then holding their own to endure yet another tie-break.
Beating the three hours and 20 minutes Murray needed to beat Nishikori in the ATP World Tour Finals group stages, the game looked far from coming to an end, Raonic saving match points to prolong the agony.
But it was Murray who held his nerve, the Canadian finding the net on the 20th point as the home favourite took the spoils, a 21st successive victory which equals a career best for the Brit.
Sportsbeat 2016