Marray takes earnings beyond £200k

Jonny Marray (right) and Freddie Nielsen in doubles action yesterday (Getty Images)

Jonny Marray's fairytale year is over, but there were plenty of positives for the 31-year-old Briton to reflect upon following his defeat last night in the doubles semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Despite losing 6-4, 6-3 to the Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, Marray and his partner, Denmark's Freddie Nielsen, each left the year-ending championships with cheques for £36,200, which is more than they usually earn in a year.

The last four months have been an extraordinary time for Marray. He was a journeyman professional for the first 12 years of his career, playing mostly on the Challenger circuit, but in July he became the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men's doubles since 1936 and has not looked back since.

Already No 20 in the world doubles rankings, he should rise three more places this week.

Having previously earned an average of £21,000 a year in prize money, Marray had banked more than £181,000 in 2012 before he arrived at the O2 Arena.

In tonight's final, Granollers and Lopez will meet India's Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, who lost to Marray and Nielsen in the round-robin stage.