Andy Murray, legend or letdown? The next 12 months will decide; TWO DAYS TO ATP TOUR FINALS TENNIS.

Byline: Greg Rusedski; MIKE WALTERS

THIS is it. We were promised a momentous show at the O2 and we've got one.

Starting with the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, which begin on Sunday, the next 12 months will define Andy Murray as a player.

The year 2010 is going to be vital for Murray and probably his best chance to win a Grand Slam, because there's another generation of hungry young talents emerging from the pack.

And the best way to lay down a marker would be to win the ATP Finals, in front of his own fans at the biggest-ever tennis show in Britain outside Wimbledon.

Apart from the crowd support, which will be a huge benefit, Murray has every reason to be excited.

His form this year has been consistent, the indoor surface should suit his game and his batteries are recharged after that blip at the Paris Masters.

On top of that, some of his main rivals at the O2 have shown they are fallible. Roger Federer lost in Basel, his own backyard, while Rafael Nadal has not shown the supreme form he enjoyed six months ago before he injured his knee.

So this is a wonderful opportunity for Murray to harness the crowd's backing, and although he's still waiting for that elusive first Slam, the stage is there for him.

It would be a real statement of intent to come out on top in a tournament featuring the world's eight best players, where every match is the equivalent of a Grand Slam quarter-final - or even bigger.

Wimbledon remains the mecca for top players, but the big personalities are all in town (apart from Andy Roddick, who pulled out with a knee injury earlier this week).

It's going to be a fantastic atmosphere when Murray steps on court and he will have a perfect showcase to demonstrate all the key elements are in place to win career-defining tournaments.

The difference between Andy and Tim Henman or myself is that people came to Wimbledon every year hoping we might do something special - but with Murray, they expect him to win.

Long before he broke into the top 10, I thought he would be a contender. I knew he was going to be better than me or Tim.

He's worked on his fitness, his court speed, his stamina and there are no bogeymen waiting to trip him up.

Watching him in practice, he plays without fear - and that is the hallmark of a Grand Slam champion or the winner of pounds 1million at the O2. Juan Martin Del Potro was brave enough - and good enough - to take it on from the first point at the US Open final and that's why he surprised Federer.

Murray has been growing into that role but he can't make his fans wait forever.

In addition to Del Potro, you have the likes of Marin Cilic coming through and Novak Djokovic, after a quiet year, ended it by demolishing Nadal in Paris and beating Federer in Basel.

Murray has improved in every Slam this season, apart from the US Open, where he was hampered by a wrist injury and although he's too young at 22 to say "it's now or never", the forthcoming year is going to be a key one for him.

Still, if he does triumph at the O2, it would be a phenomenal effort. To win five matches in eight days against the cream of world tennis, he won't have a harder week in his career.

After being drawn in the same group, he may even have to beat Federer twice.

But what an opportunity for Murray to show he is a Grand Slam champion in waiting. Bring it on!

Interview: MIKE WALTERS

DATES WITH DESTINY

Jan 18-31: Australian Open, Melbourne

May 24-June 6: French Open, Roland Garros, Paris

June 21-July 4: The Championships, Wimbledon

Aug 30-Sep 12: US Open, Flushing Meadows, New York 

Leading life assurance and pensions company AEGON is lead partner of British Tennis - and is backing the sport at all levels, from grass roots to world-class tennis events. www.aegon.co.uk/tennis