ATP TOUR FINALS 2016, SEMI-FINAL: Andy's through!!! Beats Raonic 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 9

[patmoren]

I had to resort to watching streaming on my mobile while watching the swimming so stressful needed to see what was going on. Even running on empty Andy finds a way. Shame about Jamie/Bruno, not their day today.

[lovetennis]

It's one of the weird pecularities of this tournament that Kei is in the semi having won only one match

[LC the fan]

Just wish Kei could make a bit more of an effort to keep Novak out there a bit longer.
I have been so looking forward to this match-up but I not when Novak is fresh as a daisy and Andy is out on his feet.. But we know Andy will find it from somewhere, lord knows how

[themass15]

What an unbelievable match to be at this afternoon. Even more stress than Wednesday which I did not think was possible. So pleased he is in the final tomorrow but what does he have left. The Djokovic has a walk in the park; doesn't seem fair.

[Bardot]

Some quotes from Andy's press conference.

I don't know how I'll feel tomorrow. I'm tired now. It was hard - physically and mentally. It was back and forth in the third set. My body is a bit sore. Mentally it was tiring too. It was one of the tougher matches I've played this year. It was very long and mentally tiring. It was very up and down. It would have been easy to have gone away today but I didn't. I stayed tough and fought the best I could.
I'm practicing about 2.30 tomorrow. I don't know what I'm doing in the morning. I'll try to sleep in as late as possible. Tomorrow is the last day for a while. I'll give my best tomorrow and hopefully that's enough. I've stayed at home a few nights, if I played a late match I've been practicing early and driving home at midday. By the time I'm done tonight, I'll just stay at the hotel. The point of going home is to see my daughter, she went to bed hours ago.

We haven't spent loads of time together since the grass period. I've spent more time with Jamie Delgado. I was pretty down after the French Open. We agreed to start working together a few days after and that was a big boost. I had the perfect grass court season and that gave me a lot of confidence. Then I've just played great last 4/5 months. Ivan definitely came in at a really important point of the year for me.


And this for the detractors who are obsessed by the number of top ranked players Andy has faced.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cxp6AyDW8AAl_O0.jpg

[patlowe]

I had to dash away after Andy's match as I was having a friend coming at 6.30 for some food and I had absolutely nothing done in preparation! But nothing was going to take me away from that match! My friend was very understanding anyway! Have been reflecting on Andy's performances this week...4 consecutive wins over 4 top 8 players! That alone is some achievement! I am not making excuses ahead of tomorrow's final, (cos we know Andy will give it his all) but I don't think anyone will be in the least upset (I won't be anyway) if he can't manage to find the gas to see him through. His achievements to date are supersonic and way beyond what we thought he might achieve anyway. He is going to be world #1 through much of 2017 anyway, so Novak, enjoy your last few weeks there IF you manage to get there at all tomorrow! That was such an amazing match today....will live long in the memory!

[rimarli]

I am sure Andy has played similar matches and then come out and played the next day. Also Djokovic is probably under more pressure to get back to the top

[exislander]

That really was an amazing match today - our man just never gives up! Raonic played as well as I have ever seen him play but Andy found enough to win. After 2 such long matches to reach the final he may not have enough mental or physical energy left for a rested Djokovic who I think is still playing below his best although he has won some matches apparently easily this week - but against much lesser opposition. I too will not be disappointed if Andy does not win tomorrow as he will have every chance of regaining number one early next year. It took me a while to unwind after this match and I have an early start in the morning - competing at table tennis tomorrow and will try (probably unsuccessfully) to never give up until the last point is played! I may miss the beginning of the final but have set recorder or will catch it on replay later. Best of luck Andy - your last match for a few weeks so rest is only hours away!

[HoopGirl]

Wow - still buzzing from that match so had to post now rather than wait until the morning.
That was one of the most tense matches that I've watched! So close!
Boy - Andy is incredible- not sure how he managed to wriggle his way out of that one! But bravo!
Rest well Andy - and tell everyone you feel fine even if it's not true - it's better for Novak to think you're indestructible!

[Genbrit]

That was a very stressful match for me. It started at 6am here and so I got up, went to make coffee and had no filters. First sign it was going to be a rough day.
TV didn't show it live and so had to stream, my connection would keep freezing at the most inconvenient times. Ugh!! I missed most of the first set as didn't realize it wasn't on TV and took me a while to find a stream and get it to work. BUT ANDY WON!!!! Thank goodness. I was so exhausted I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!!

I kinda wish he had met Djoko in the semis now though, as I'm scared he is mentally, and physically drained.

Don't think I will be able to watch the final live as have to work which makes me very sad but will watch as soon as I can.

Anyway, c'mon Andy, all we can ask is that you do your best. Proud of the year you've had.

[Teresa]

If it was a 5 setter tomorrow I wouldn't give him more than an outside chance, given how fatigued he must be. However a three setter is a very different beast. Here's hoping.

[rimarli]

Sorry originally put this on the wrong place. Why couldn't raonic play like that against an out of form Djokovic? That also goes for nishi

[Caro]

I know this match is old hat now .... but I just had to add my perspective after watching it live. I have read through the thread and it sounds like you were all going through the same torture! Me and Gill were screaming our heads off like we would at DC and the atmosphere was amazing as the match went on. That was certainly one of the most exciting and nerve wracking matches I have ever watched live. So, so happy he got through and so happy to have been there to witness it. Worth every penny of the semi ticket price .... unlike the evening session.

[themass15]

I had the fortune of being at the afternoon match only. As you say Caro one of the most stressful matches with Andy ever. I had also been at the Nishi v Andy match on Wednesday and was lucky enough to be at the final too. I looked out for you on Saturday afternoon but couldn't see you. I was in Block 106 Row. I had swapped with a friend as I was originally in Row N. Just wonderful he came through it. As you say worth every penny!!!!!!!

[angiebabez]

Was deffo worth every penny that match....especially since andy won lol! I was in block 105 with my friend paula...we were singing our wee hearts out at every opportunity....hope andy heard us ;) and appeared on the big screen at one point. hoping i never have to sit through a match as stressful as that again though, it nearly finished me off, i could literally hear my heart pumping right out my chest!!! Jamie & Brunos match & the pitiful showing of kei v djoko was an anti climax after that epic!! WELL DESERVED drinks for the AMFF lot went down a treat afterwards.

[WimbledonWestie]

It was just awesome- I think I am less stressed watching live- but boy was I yelling, clutching hair, gasping, groaning, jumping, fist pumping. You name it. Can't believe it was almost a week ago!

[angiebabez]

Im normally less stressed watching live but not that 1...think thats the worst ive ever been. I wanted it for him so much.

[themass15]

Me too. Although I was pretty bad at the quarter final at Wimbledon when he played Tsonga. I had to go out of Centre Court for a few games.

[Rosalind]

I was there too. Yes it was the most stressful I've ever felt live and I don't think any match has been as stressful since Wimbledon 2013 final game. I am watching recording one set/ evening now. What a match.

[WimbledonWestie]

My class have thoroughly enjoyed my tales - especially my joy at my flight delay which allowed me to see the whole final. I think they think I'm a fruitcake - but I'm their fruitcake. It humanises me in their eyes. It seems I don't live in the cupboard overnight. Last week they were asking me about I'm a celebrity and they nodded sagely when I said I hadn't seen it because there was tennis on. And one of them told me yesterday Andy was Scotland's greatest sportsman and greatest person.