Murray v Robredo as it happened

1. Murray beats Robredo to win Valencia Open
2. Murray goes fifth in Race to London standings
3. Murray wins his 31st career title

OK folks, it's time to bring down the curtain on a scintillating afternoon of tennis, which ended with a shattered Murray picking up his 31st career title. Relive the twists and turns of an extraordinary match in Piers Newbery's developing report and keep tuning in for news from the final Masters tournament of the year in Paris. I bid you goodnight.

What now for our superhuman Scot then? Well, believe it or not, he could be back on court in less than 48 hours facing either Julien Benneteau or Yen-Hsun Lu in the Paris Masters. The week's break between that tournament at the ATP Tour finals cannot come too soon.

At three hours, 19 minutes, that was the longest ATP final of the year. Murray hit 45 winners to Robredo's 39, but that only tells a smidgeon of the story of a match that was predictable only in its utter unpredictability. Robredo won all four of his break points (Murray only won two of 13) but simply could not do it when it mattered most as he let five Championship points slip through his grasp.

Credit to Murray though. His refusal to accept defeat is downright heroic.

Get involved

Samantha Walsh: That was just incredible from both Robredo and Murray. They gave absolutely everything! I'm exhausted just from watching!

Andy Giles: Few will want to meet Murray as he is on a roll, either in Paris or at the end of year tournament. How things change quickly.

Mark Savile: Looks like he's just been through 12 rounds with David Haye and Mike Tyson at the same time! #Murray.

Murray can barely get out of his chair as he ambles over to collect the Valencia Open trophy - a strange twisted bronze sculpture on a marble base.

Murray's third title in five weeks has shot him up to fifth in the Race to London standings. Whatever happens in Paris next week, another appearance at the O2 is all but in the bag.

Andy Murray has put his fans through the wringer many, many times, but that has to take the biscuit. What an incredible fighter the British number one is. Just as he did against the same opponent in China, Murray saved five match points and prevailed in three hours, 19 minutes of utterly gripping tennis.

Murray hobbles to the net where his opponent is already slumped. The two players embrace. What a sensational match. I'm exhausted, and I've only been watching it.

Game, set and match Murray

He's done it! After another ding-dong rally, Murray wins the title with a backhand winner and sinks to the floor...

Robredo nets. Match point Murray.

Murray can hardly get the ball out of his hand but still fires down a bullet of a first serve and puts away the volley.

Murray nets. Match point number five...

Tie-break latest

Robredo is hitting it harder than at any point in the match, nearly breaking Murray in half to earn yet another match point. Murray saves it - again.

Tie-break latest

At 4-4, Robredo stretches his 32-year-old frame to the limits to reach the ball just before it touches the surface and pop home a backhand volley winner. Murray gives as good as he gets with a barn-storming backhand, but his lob is tame and Robredo puts it away for match point number three...

Robredo's return looks like a winner, but somehow Murray gets it back, takes control of the point and finishes it off with a volley.

Third set tie-break latest

Robredo has found some extra juice from somewhere. Perhaps from the crowd, who are giving him more support than at any point in the match. From 2-1 down, Murray unfurls winners off both flanks before pushing a backhand long to keep this decisive tie-break right in the balance at 3-3.

Murray is right on the attack now, but he just can't quite string enough shots together. Back-to-back unforced errors and a Robredo forehand winner mean we are going the full distance in this epic final. Tie-break time.

That service hold seems to have taken it out of Robredo as he hits two powderpuff returns. Murray puts away two winners to reassume the lead. As the match clocks up three hours, once again Robredo will serve to stay in the match.

At advantage Robredo, Murray plays a brilliant point, sending his opponent this way and that and finishing it with a backhand winner. Robredo goes long - it's Championship point to Murray.

Inspired by chants of "Tommy, Tommy" from the home crowd, Robredo saves it then nabs the next point with a fierce forehand. When Murray then hits a backhand out, they erupt into the loudest cheer of the match.

Robredo shows great strength of character to go 40-15 ahead, but Murray lands a lob and a drilled backhand for deuce.

Then we have a hold-up. And something of a hoo-hah. Robredo insists he stopped playing because a ball came out of his pocket. But the umpire says he did not see it. The supervisor is called and awards the point to Murray. Could this be the end game?

More amazing tennis here as Robredo pulls off a stonking winner to stay in the mix at 30-30. But Murray takes a deep breath and wins the next two points to move within one game of the Valencia title.

This match continues to defy logic. Every time you think one of the players is down, he discovers a new lease of life from somewhere. Murray is on his toes, going 0-30 ahead and earning a break point when Robredo misses a backhand. Robredo is so knackered he can hardly serve, but somehow finds the strength to thwart a scampering Murray.

Another twist as the Scot earns his second break point, and this time he puts away a backhand winner to level up at 4-4. Astonishing.

Murray is really wobbling now. Is there anything left in his legs? A double fault and a wayward forehand leaves him 0-30 down and that swiftly becomes 0-40 when Robredo pummels a forehand down the line. Another double fault, and Robredo secures the vital break in this deciding third set.

Murray doesn't even sit down at the changeover, simply getting some fluids on board to try to keep his cramp at bay. Robredo is keeping his cool admirably on serve, giving Murray nothing to go at and holding to love with a backhand top-spin winner.

Murray's cramp is hardly tested as he finds some big serves and closes out the game to 15 with a backhand winner.

One of the quirks of this tournament is the attire of the line-judges. To a person, they are decked out in brown leather shoes, chinos, baggy blue sweaters and ... sunglasses. Indoors. Strange.

Anyway, Robredo is up against it on his serve again, wiping his brow at 30-30. Murray nets a backhand then grabs his calf to attend to what looks like cramp. That's not a good sign. Murray does not even chase down the next point. At 2-2, this is anyone's match.

An effortless hold to love puts the Scot 2-1 ahead. If Murray can keep holding his serve, all the pressure is on Robredo.

Murray opens the door to a break at 0-30, but his confidence gets the better of him as he misses a couple of attempted winners by an inch. Robredo fights back to take the game with four points on the bounce. An angry Murray mutters some words to himself before preparing to serve again.

Murray makes the perfect start to the deciding set as he holds serve to 15. A swig of juice and straight to the other end to try to make inroads on the Spaniard's serve.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, a Murray fan holds up a newspaper front page with a picture of Murray kissing the Wimbledon trophy on it. Inspiration, should Murray need it, as he closes in on his third title of the year.

Getty Images

This really is an extraordinary match. The overall quality is actually pretty low - both players are clearly exhausted - but it is curiously gripping. Think psychological drama as opposed to all-action thriller.

Game and second set Murray

Match point Robredo again ..... and Murray saves it with an ace!

Murray ups the ante with a beefy forehand to earn a set point of his own - and the Scot converts it at the first attempt when Robredo can't control a forehand.

Incredible scenes. Robredo has now wasted seven match points against Murray in two matches. In the Shenzhen final, Murray ran away with the final set to take it 6-1. What can we expect here?

Second set tie-break latest

Murray wins two points on the bounce to level up the breaker. At 4-4, a cracking point ensues, with Murray paying the price for not putting away a volley as Robredo passes him with a brilliant backhand on the run. Moments later, Murray nets a simple forehand, and Robredo has a match point. In Shenzhen, he wasted five of them before Murray took the match. And this time, the first goes begging as he pushes a forehand long.

Second set tie-break latest

Murray lands a brilliant drop volley to take the first point against the serve, then berates himself for "thinking too much" after serving a double fault. The players trade errors, but Robredo sneaks two points in front with a clean smash and a powerful forehand, which Murray can't get back.

Getty Images

The rallies are back, but Murray is in control, wearing down Robredo until he nets a backhand. When another backhand from the Spaniard misses its intended target, we are into a tie-break.

This a bubbling up into a really tasty final now. A Murray forehand winner merely prompts an even better backhand from Robredo. Murray is hitting the ball as cleanly as he has done at any point in the match but Robredo is as tough as they come, putting away a high backhand volley at deuce and nudging 6-5 ahead when his clever half-court dink draws an error from Murray. Once again, the British number one must win his serve to keep this match alive.

Just when Murray needs it most, he pulls out his best service game of the match, holding to love to level up at 5-5 with an ace.

If Murray has the world-weary gait of a middle-aged divorcee, Robredo is now skipping around like a lovestruck teenager. The Spaniard clobbers a superb forehand winner on the run as he holds to love and moves within one game of the match.

Robredo breaks back

Robredo changes his shirt, while Murray hobbles over to the service line once more. And it's not long before Murray is buckled over his racquet again as he nets a backhand for 30-all. Two Murray misses and Robredo's comeback is complete.

Is the smart money now on the Spaniard taking this in two?

Murray fancies this now. He takes it to the Robredo serve, racing into a 0-30 lead and picking up three break points rather fortuitously when a Robredo net cord lands back on the Spaniard's side.

Incredibly, Robredo digs deep and produces some of his best tennis of the match to win the next five points and keep his second set chances alive.

A longer rally, with Murray in command, pinging a forehand crosscourt winner to go 30-0 up. A drive volley gives him three game points, and Murray wraps up the fourth consecutive love game in the set with a forehand down the line.

The pattern continues with another easy service hold for Robredo. Are both men keeping something back here, steeling themselves for the inevitable decider?

We've got two dead men walking out there. Robredo's movement is practically non-existent in this game as Murray holds to love. The Scot seals it with an ace that lands pretty much in the middle of the service box but still proves well beyond the reach of the struggling Spaniard.

This game has changed considerably now. Gone are the long rallies, with both players now trying to finish off points as quickly as they can. Robredo holds to love to get himself on the board in this second set.

Tommy Robredo is not giving Murray any cheap points. Instead, the Scot is having to pay top whack just to stay in each game. At 30-30, Murray is under pressure on his own serve again, but he sneaks over the line to consolidate the break.

This is now a huge ask for Murray, who is competing for the fifth week in a row. Good signs here at the start of the second set, though, as he earns a seventh break point of the match. When Robredo goes long, Murray screams his delight before firing some pointed words towards his box. "I'm trying so hard. Show me some support," he yells.

Game and first set Robredo

Getty Images

There's very little gusto about Murray's groundstrokes. He's hitting everything like a nervy cricketer feeling his way into an innings, checking every drive without following through.

As he falls to 0-30, he slumps over an advertising board, before picking himself up to finally find a winner, on the way to a 40-30 lead. Robredo takes it to deuce, however, and earns himself a set point with a blistering forehand pass. When a Murray forehand sails long, Robredo wins the set.

Robredo is serving with new balls and the wind very much in his sails. But he is letting the adrenaline get the better of him. Two wayward strokes hand Murray two break points.

Once again though, Robredo rises to the challenge, returning everything Murray throws at him with interest. With Murray practically on his knees, the Spaniard saves a third and fourth break point and clinches an epic game when Murray drags a forehand into the tramlines.

Robredo is still puffing away like an overweight City worker who has been forced to run for the Tube. But, amazingly, his tennis is getting better and better. When a Murray second serve sits up, Robredo slams it down the line to take it to deuce. Suddenly, it is the Spaniard who is the aggressor, dragging Murray around the court with some booming groundstokes and earning himself his first break point of the match. Suddenly it is Murray who looks exhausted, his hair matted down with sweat. And Robredo takes the game when Murray whips a cross-court forehand into the net.

From 30-30, Robredo serves a double fault to hand Murray his first break point, but the Scot fails to take his chance as he whips a forehand long. Four deuces follow, with Robredo looking absolutely shattered between points. But somehow the veteran Spaniard holds strong and wins the game with a crunching forehand down the line.

Murray's superior power is plain to see in every point here, but the Scot has not found his rhythm yet and a forehand winner from Robredo takes us to 30-30 on the Murray serve. The Briton's advance to the net pays off to give him game point, and he takes it with a fast, wide serve that scrapes the frame of Robredo's racquet on the way into the crowd.

It's all a touch scrappy out there, with the majority of points being won by unforced errors. Robredo grows in confidence as the game goes on, taking it to 15. Not much to choose between them in these early exchanges.

Meanwhile, the camera picks out tournament director Juan Carlos Ferrero in the crowd, alongside his other half and an extremely well-behaved baby.

Murray sails through an easy service game as he holds to 15. Again, Robredo looks to force things but after looping a forehand long, he dumps his next into the net.

With Murray moving so well, Robredo seems eager to keep the points short. An ace nudges him 30-15 ahead before Murray gives himself a sniff of a break by winning a 25-shot rally. But a smashed winner and a big first serve get the Spaniard on the board.

We could be here some time. The first point is a 23-shot rally, which ends when Murray nets a forehand. Murray wriggles his way back into it by landing some first serves and bags the first game when Robredo pushes a forehand return wide.

Ok, hopefully I've served up enough goodies to whet your appetite for this showdown on the Spanish coast. Over to the players...

Murray reached the final by beating David Ferrer 6-4 7-5 on Saturday, his second victory in three meetings with Spaniard in the last three weeks. Robredo beat France's Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-2) in his semi-final.

Murray is seeking his 31st career title, Robredo his 13th.

Back to Valencia and Murray and Robredo have entered the arena, the Scot in dark grey, the Spaniard deep orange. The waterside venue is a flashy old place, with steep white pillars on the outer and inner walls. It has something of the Sydney Opera House about it.

Reuters

Talking of 33-year-old world number ones....

Serena Williams made sure she ends the year at the very top after by beating Romania's Simona Halep to win the season-ending WTA Tour Finals for the third year in a row on the event's debut in Singapore. The American top seed won 6-3 6-0 to claim the WTA title for the fifth time.

Federer flying

Getty Images

Elsewhere in tennis, Roger Federer's superb season shows no sign of tailing off. He beat David Goffin of Belgium 6-2 6-2 to win the Swiss Indoors in Basel. If Federer wins next week's Paris Masters and the ATP finals, he will finish the year as world number one. Not bad going for a 33-year-old.

Head-to-head

Murray lost his first two meetings with world number 21 Robredo back in 2006 and 2007 but has won all four of their matches since then. Their most recent contest, in the Shenzhen final, turned into something of a humdinger, with Murray saving five match points before nicking the second set on a tie-break and running away with the decider.

Yes folks, it is a fit and firing Andy Murray who will take on Tommy Robredo today in the final of the Valencia Open as he seeks his third title in five weeks. And, after victories in Shenzhen and Vienna, a win today would move Murray up three places to fifth in the Race To London standings. With Rafael Nadal having pulled out of the tournament due to appendicitis, meaning even the ninth-placed player will qualify, that would all but secure Murray's place in the season-ending tournament for the seventh year in succession.

Murray's march to London

Getty Images

What a difference a month makes. This time in September, Andy Murray's chances of qualifying for the ATP World Tour finals in London looked slim at best. A distant 11th in the standings, and without a title since Wimbledon 2013, the British number one was losing his grip on a place among the world's elite.

One month on and Murray has not only turned the corner, he is steaming up the fast lane with the O2 Arena in his sights.