Peter Fleming says Murray 'made a mockery' of his epic matches while Barry Millns described his win as 'awesome'
Sunday 20 November 2016 22:29, UK
Andy Murray produced "an extraordinary effort" to see off long-time rival Novak Djokovic to win the ATP World Tour Finals and end the year as world No 1, felt Barry Cowan.
Murray saved the best to last by outclassing Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4 to claim his first ATP World Tour Finals title and secure the year-end top ranking on Sunday.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray became the 17th man to hold the prestigious year-end No 1 berth since the inception of the ATP rankings in 1973.
He is the first player other than Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to earn the honour since Andy Roddick in 2003.
And ruining Djokovic's bid to return to the top caps an incredible year for Murray, who has won Wimbledon for the second time, claimed a second Olympic gold medal and become a father for the first time.
"Well, it was an extraordinary effort, to do that in the manner that he was able to do it in and given everything that's happened not just this week, but everything that's happened since the Davis Cup," said Sky Sports Tennis analyst Cowan.
"What's surprised me more than anything was that he won the physical battle. He was stronger physically than Novak which meant he was mentally stronger than Novak. I guess Andy was on a winning streak but I certainly thought that Novak would continue the sort of tennis he played last night.
"Andy was clinical, gutsy, it was an astonishing effort what he's achieved in 2016 and I thought we all felt coming into it, given his year, given what he's had to endure and what's he's contributed over the decade, I think it's only right that in at least one year, he would end the year as number one which he's done in such an amazing manner."
Peter Fleming said the Scot "made a mockery of what he went through this week" with epic matches against Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori four days earlier.
"Three hours and 38 minutes on Saturday, and three hours and 20 minutes against Nishikori on Wednesday. He was brilliant," admitted Fleming.
"I think a lot of us thought it would be a real physical struggle for him, yet he came out and almost put it out of his mind. He elevated his consciousness if you will and just said 'I have reserves, I'm going to tap into them' and that's what's exactly what he did - he was terrific.
"I think it then was telling on Djokovic because he might have thought he would win the physical battle but suddenly appeared as though it was still going to be a fight. The pressure affected him and in the end, it was a battle of two equals and Murray showed that much more resolve."
Commentator Barry Millns described Murray's victory as "an awesome, awesome performance".
"Over this whole year, it's an incredible conclusion. But he's got such steel in him and sometimes you have to go through that furnace," said the voice of Sky Sports Tennis.
"He was the stronger out there. It was an incredible display of mental fortitude through this week, but to bring it to bear against Djokovic, it was Murray who was the more pro-active. He was the one who was hurting Djokovic.
"All those Championship points reminded me of the Wimbledon final in 2013. The final game of this match was reminiscent of the final game there. The chances that came and went, we all thought 'is it going to happen again'?
"But he's not a bottler. He's a brilliant, brilliant tennis player. He's the new world champion and quite rightly the year-end number one."
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