Top 5 ATP tour matches of 2016

Right! The tennis season is officially over now as the Davis cup final weekend has come to a close, which saw Argentina claim the title (well done guys!) on their fifth attempt.  So this now means I can now do a review of my favourite matches of the year.

Now usually in the past I've done just a top 10 for the whole year over the season that would encompass the best ATP, grand slams and the Davis cup matches together.  But this time I've decided to do three separate posts for each category given that we've had such a great season this year and had some amazing matches it would be tough to narrow it down to one post.

So this post will cover my pick of the top 5 ATP tour matches of the season (these are matches that are part of the regular tour and not the grand slams) and with that let's start the countdown...

5. BNP Paribas Open 3rd round, Federico Delbonis d. Andy Murray 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 

So at No.5 is this clash between the then World No.2, Andy Murray and the virtual unknown but now known hero of the Davis cup final for Argentina, Federico Delbonis who in this match gave the British No.1 more than he bargained for in a high quality match.

The match itself featured plenty of twists and turns and it was Delbonis who surprised Andy with his unorthdox game and he showed his prowess in terms of his movement, touch and defence against a somewhat undercooked Andy Murray who had just become a father only a few weeks ago.  Delbonis then went on to break Andy in the first set and he closed it out to take the opener but in the 2nd set, Andy fought back and he broke the Argentine to go on and level the match.  Going into the decider Andy looked to be favourite and he even went a break up however with some real determination and class, Delbonis broke back and play went onto into a tiebreak and the Argentine pulled a big upset as took the breaker 7-3 to seal the match and send the World No.2 packing.

Well this certainly was a high quality match for the most part and Delbonis turned a very surprising result as Andy looked to be in control in the deciding set but the Argentine certainly deserved all the credit for defeating the British No.1.             

4. Rome Masters semi final, Novak Djokovic d. Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-4, 7-6

At No.4 is the very next match Novak played funnily enough, which was a real epic battle between himself and Kei Nishikori, which saw the Japanese No.1 play in some real good form and the match itself saw Novak be pushed to the absolute limit like he did before with Rafa.

The first set saw Novak get off to a slow start as Kei played some sharp tennis to grab a double break to take the opener but in the 2nd set Nole did what he usually does and fought his way back into the match and broke the Kei to level the proceedings.  And the last set was a great contest, which saw both players battle it out as they pushed each other to the very limit and despite Kei's best efforts it was the World No.1 who just made it through to yet another final in Rome.

Again this was another very high quality encounter in a year that had already seen Kei Nishikori threaten the very top guys in the game and here he came closer than ever to causing an upset but he was up against Novak who knows a thing or two about playing his best when he's backed up against a wall.

So it was a great clash and deserves its place on the list.

3. AEGON Championships final, Andy Murray d. Milos Raonic 6-7, 6-4, 6-3

At No.3 is this clash between Andy Murray and one of his key rivals this year, Milos Raonic, who Andy has already endured a real epic clash against at the Australian open earlier this year and going into this match Raonic had just started his tuition under John McEnroe and the two of them together looked to be a lethal combination.

And given the way the match started it looked a combination that would work as after a tight opening set, Raonic took it on a tiebreak and he even secured an early break in the 2nd set along with the knowledge that Raonic had never been broken in the whole tournament up to this point!  However Andy proved to be the one man that could snap that streak as he broke back and he then went on to break Raonic himself and serve out for the 2nd set.  And in the 3rd set, Andy seized the initiative with a break of serve in the bag he went onto secure a double break as Raonic failed to serve it out and with that Andy secured a record 5th Queens club title.

This was just one of the many gripping tour finals of the year and it was certainly quite a memorable one to watch given the history surrounding it for Andy and the event as he broke the tournament record by being the first man to win five titles there.  It also signified that Milos Raonic was starting to really look like a significant threat to the rest of the field including Andy and with Johnny Mac coaching him it would see both men have a rematch come the Wimbledon final.

However this match out of the two was for me the more memorable one and as such it deserves its place on the list.

2. Rome Masters quarter final, Novak Djokovic d. Rafael Nadal 7-5, 7-6 

At No.2 is this clash between two of the greatest rivals the game has seen as Novak and Rafa went at it on the clay in a gruelling match that lasted two and a half hours in two very tight sets.  Rafa however had suffered a bad run of form against Novak prior to this season but here he showed some of his fighting best against the then World No.1.

The match itself had many twists and turns in momentum as Rafa and Novak traded breaks of serve aplenty in the first set and despite Rafa having set points failed to serve it out before Novak went on to get a break of his own to take the opening set.  In the 2nd set Rafa again went a break up but he soon found himself broken back as Novak was like a dog with a bone who simply would not let go.  And the match concluded with a thrilling 2nd set tiebreak that saw a weary Novak finally get over the line with a winner down the line as he finally dispatched the former king of clay in one of the toughest straight set wins of his career.

This is a match that just about had everything and it was pity for Rafa that he wasn't able to capitalise on his chances when they came around but Novak was No.1 for a reason and the quality of this match earns its place in the runner-up spot. 

So the No.1 match of the 2016 ATP Tour match season is....

1. ATP World Tour Finals semi final, Andy Murray d. Milos Raonic, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 

So in the top spot is this incredible match which was between the newly crowned World No.1, Andy Murray and the Wimbledon finalist, Milos Raonic in what was a very tense and memorable, not mention epic encounter at the year end championship in London.  The match itself was even the longest one in the history of the tournament in its 7 year run at the o2 in London at 3 hours and 38 minutes.

As for the match itself it featured many riveting points and long gruelling service games but the match started on serve until 6-5 for Raonic and the Canadian then secured a break of the Murray serve to take the 1st set.  In the 2nd set, the drama continued for Andy as he went down another break and from here things looked pretty bleak but just like their clash at the Queens club final, Andy broke back again and he went on to seal the 2nd set on a very tense tiebreak. 

And in the 3rd set the audience were treated to a thrilling, nerve jangling contest as both men battled it out to try and hold serve with Andy failing to serve it out twice at 5-4 and 6-5 which saw play go into a final tiebreak which was an epic in itself and Andy had to save a match point.  But in the end it was Andy that finally prevailed as he sealed an epic match win and the 3rd set tiebreak 11-9 to reach his first ever ATP World Tour Finals finale.

Well this is a match that had absolutely everything and the level of play from both men was at times incredible and though it was an error strewn performance at times from Andy Murray it did show what a real champion he is to battle through the Raonic onslaught of big serves and brutal returns. 

Raonic also deserves much credit for playing his part in this memorable encounter too and this year under John McEnroe's coaching (he teamed up with McEnroe again at this event) he could very well make his major breakthrough very soon.

But in the end this was a heroic performance from Andy Murray and he would then go on to win the title and secure the year end No.1 ranking over Novak Djokovic in the final and for me this was the best ATP tour match of 2016.

Right! So that's it for now and I will be back soon with my countdown of my pick of the best grand slam matches of the year.

So until the next un its bye for now!  

ATP World Tour Finals final match preview: A new king in town!

Right, so the 2016 ATP World Tour Finals has now come to a close as the final last night saw the two best players on the planet, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic battle it out for the right to be the World No.1.  So let's review how the match went!  

THE FINAL

Well this match had so much riding on it as we all know as both men were competing to claim the year end No.1 ranking with Andy out in front as the current No.1 going into this match and Novak looking to reclaim the top spot. 

So the match promised to be deliver much although it had to be said there were concerns over Andy's fitness going into the match as he had to endure a brutal battle of wills against the big serving Canadian, Milos Raonic, who pushed Andy right to the limit in a three set classic just the day before that lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes.  Novak in start contrast had only spent just over an hour on court in his dismantling of Kei Nishikori as he conceded only two games in all before he booked his place in the final.  So fitness wise it looked very much like a Nole victory might have been on the cards.

However...the match turned out to be something of a real surprise as it was Andy that got off to a strong start after a tight start when it came to 4-3 and with Novak serving to level 4-4, Andy finally broke Nole's serve and went on to take the 1st set.  In the 2nd set, Novak started to look worse for wear as his game started to come apart and Andy ramped it up several notches and broke his old rival twice to take a 4-1 lead.  However Andy then was broken by Novak who was briefly given a fresh lease of life and he reduced the deficit to a single break. 

And with Andy serving for the title at 5-4, Novak pushed Andy hard one last time in a game that was slightly reminiscent of that tortourous Wimbledon final game (although not quite as bad) as Andy was forced to duece a couple of times.  However in the end, Andy hung tough and soon brought up a third championship point, which he converted and with it he sealed his place as the year end World No.1 by defeating Novak in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4 and claiming the ATP World Tour Finals trophy.

THOUGHTS

Well I have to admit this was certainly not the result I would have predicted as I was convinced myself that Novak would have won given that he was the fresher of the two men going into this match and he appeared to have regrouped and found his form again.  However Novak did have the cushier draw in the championship and this may have left him being not tested as much as Andy. 

Not only that Novak had not played Andy since the French Open final and he suffered a downward spiral after that victory and since then Andy has become a much better player, who was also on a career best 23 match winning streak going into this final.  So on the face it, it was Andy that went into this match in the stronger position given his winning streak and string of titles that had eluded Novak, who had failed to win a singles title since the Toronto Masters back in August.  And the fact that Andy was able to come through this match in such a stunning and incredible fashion is just testament to how great a player he has become and it was almost like the Raonic match had never even taken place!

As for Novak it ended not quite the way he would have liked but he still managed to reach the final of the event all the same and the first half of his year was nothing short of sensational given the success he had at the Australian and French Open events.  Ultimately the emotional toll it had on Novak to win the French was what really hurt him for several months after and it took him alot of time before he could re-energise himself again.  So even though he lost to the better player in Andy, Novak still has alot of signs for encouragement going into next year and given the player he is, its fair to say that he might yet reclaim the top spot.

As for Andy, well this has been a stunning year for him and undoubtedly the best season of his career by far having won 9 titles (a career best for Andy in a single season) that included the Wimbledon title and the Olympic gold medal, as well as three Masters titles and of course the ATP World Tour Finals trophy.  And its a year that has seen Andy once again really prove one of his greatest strengths lies in proving everyone wrong and I have to even admit myself I didn't think he would ever get to No.1 but it he sure has now.

I also think its safe to say that Andy can certainly go onto remain as the World No.1 and build on his growing legend in 2017 where his first challenge will be to win that elusive Australian open title where Andy has been a runner-up five times to his good friend, Novak Djokovic (well four to Nole, one to Roger Federer).

And given the form that Andy has shown I think its a fair bet that he can go on to win the title in Melbourne next year and if he does then it is sure to be another stepping stone leading towards him becoming one of the all time great players in the game.  And for my money, right now I think Andy already is in that bracket with 44 career titles overall and now the World No.1 ranking, he has joined the greats and finally has earned his place among the "Big Four" of his generation.

SINGING OFF AND DAVIS CUP PREVIEW
 
And so that's it for now as the ATP tour season has come to an end for another year and what an incredible year its been as there have been so many great matches, in fact I will be doing a post soon covering my favourite matches of the season within the next week or so. 

The only thing that remains now this season is the Davis cup final between Argentina (who knocked out the defending champs, Great Britain) and Croatia.  The tie will be held in Zagreb in Croatia this Friday coming until Sunday and in the singles, both teams will be lead by the former US Open champions, Marin Cilic (for Croatia) and Juan Martin Del Potro (for Argentina) and no doubt it should promise to be a great one and I will probably do a post on that once the final has been decided.

So that's it for now and all that remains for me to say is a big well done to Andy Murray for capping off a terrific season with the best possible result in being crowned the year-end World No.1.

And until the next un its bye for now!