ATP Finals: Doubles glory for Briton Henry Patten, as the title came after Torino participated

If this proves to be Salisbury and Skupski’s last match together, as expected, their year-long partnership will end with a familiar feeling of disappointment in a major final, having also lost in the French Open and US Open title matches.

They were defeated by Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers in the Grand Slam finals and in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

“We’ve had some great times, we’ve had some tough times,” Salisbury said after his latest defeat on the big stage.

This time the British duo faced a side they had beaten in the group stage, but were concerned that Batten and 36-year-old Heliovaara were out of action on that occasion and expected a bigger test in the final.

This is how I played it.

After the first 11 games, serve went, and big hits from Patten and a double fault from Salisbury put Helijovara and Patten on the brink of the first set, which was secured when Skupski’s shot found the net.

The deciding break in the second set came in game six when Skupski’s serve collapsed, with a quick forehand from Helijovara on break point too hot to put back into play.

Salisbury was a two-time champion in the event alongside American Rajeev Rahm, but this was not his and Skupski’s day.

Patten started the week by saying his involvement was “more important” than the result on the pitch, but he got to experience the best of both worlds.

Patten clinched the title with back-to-back aces, before drawing a diamond ring and a love heart on a courtside TV camera in a perfect week.