ATP Finals: British doubles champion assured as Neil Skupski and Joe Salisbury chase historic win

Former British number one Laura Robson, who now works for Sky Sports, mentioned to Salisbury, 33, and Skupski, 35, in a post-match interview that the pair were parting ways.

He did not deny it. The move means an end to the alliance that lasted only one season, during which they finished second at the French Open and US Open.

Asked if that factor would provide fuel for the final, when they will face opponents they beat in the group stage on Wednesday, Skupski said: “It’s just another game.

“It’s been a long season. It’s going to be a tough game against them, lads.

“We’re really looking forward to it. We’ll have to bring as much energy as we can, even though it’s the last tournament of the year.

“We’ll go out there and do our best and see what happens.”

Cash and Glasspool, the top-ranked doubles team in the world, saved the only break point earned by either team in the first set.

An early break in the second set allowed Salisbury and Skupski to tie the game and force a tiebreak in the match, with the decisive moment coming when Glasspool scored an overhead kick to give up a mini-break.

Two match points were salvaged from 9-6 behind the top two seeds, but Skupski served powerfully on the next opportunity and watched in delight as the comeback landed wide.

Earlier, Patten and Heliovaara defeated the Italian duo Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavasori 6-4, 6-3 in the first semi-final.

The victory continued a successful year for the former Wimbledon champion, who won the Australian Open in January to claim his second Grand Slam title together, and added two titles in Beijing and Paris.

Patten has already made the memorable trip to Turin, where he got engaged to his girlfriend Ellie last Sunday.

Both finalists have already pocketed big wins this week, with unbeaten Skupski and Salisbury set to share a pot of around £730,000 should the cup be lifted.

Batten and Heliovaara – having lost once in the quarter-final stage – will collect around £660,000 if they win the title.