Andy Murray outlasts Milos Raonic in semis match at ATP Finals

Andy Murray and Milos Raonic went the distance in their semifinal match at the ATP finals in London on Saturday, with Murray prevailing 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (9).

With the win, the top-ranked Murray advanced to the final of the tournament where he will face Novak Djokovic, who defeated Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-1 in the other semifinal.

After squandering chances while serving for the match twice in the final set, Murray converted on his fourth match point at the tiebreaker to finally come through. The victory keeps him in position to secure his No. 1 ranking at the end of the season for the first time in his career.

Murray needed three hours 38 minutes to beat Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., in the longest ever three-setter in the ATP finals.

"Obviously it was unbelievably tough," Murray said. "I had to fight very, very hard. Being broken twice serving for the match was frustrating. It was one of the harder matches I've played indoors. They are never this long. It was really tough."

Murray and Novak Djokovic set up a Sunday shootout for both the ATP finals title and the year-end No. 1 ranking.

Murray arrived at the tournament simply needing to do better than Djokovic to finish the year at No. 1, a position he has held since winning the Paris Masters two weeks ago.

Now, that means winning the final.

"This has never happened in the history of tennis," Djokovic said of the winner-takes-all match on Sunday. "I'm privileged to be part of the history. This is one of the biggest matches we will ever play against each other."

Djokovic might just be in better shape after overwhelming Nishikori, who held his serve only once all match.

"I pretty much executed everything I tactically planned to do," Djokovic said.

Murray just needs one last push at the end of a stunning second half to 2016, when he has won Wimbledon and the Olympics before topping the rankings for the first time.

"I'm tired," Murray said. "I've played so much tennis the last few months. I'll just give my best effort tomorrow. It's going to be tough, obviously, but I'll give my best shot."