Guys,this is an extract from a longer article-I've only put down the bits about Andy.I've also put it in the news thread.
One final push for world's top players
Early afternoon inside the O2 Arena and with people laying carpets, plugging cables and fixing lights around them, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray traded blows on the blue court, reviving memories of their classic US Open final less than two months ago.
"I can assure you there wasn't the same intensity in that session," joked Murray afterwards. But there was still sufficient quality to remind us which is the preeminent rivalry in the autumn of 2012.
This is the thing about the ATP World Tour Finals; the best in the world come together in one place, for one final push.
This may have been practice, but when the tournament begins on Monday, Murray and Djokovic will continue a rivalry which has since moved from New York to Shanghai (where they played another brilliant, deciding set final) and it would be entirely appropriate if, as well as in the group phase, they met in the final a week on Monday.
Roger Federer will definitely have something to say about that. The defending champion has won this title six times and, after defeat in the final at Basle, he pulled out of the Paris Masters to rest fully for the final week of the season.
His plan? To win Group B comfortably and then take out Murray or Djokovic or - preferably, from his point of view - both. Given his record of finishing the season strongly, who dares to stand in his way?
On Saturday night though, at the Royal Courts of Justice, an interesting insight. Taking the stage alongside Federer and the other qualifiers at the gala opening ceremony, Andy Murray was asked to reflect on his amazing season. "It's all thanks to this guy," he said, patting Federer on the back. "He made me cry at Wimbledon."
It wasn't deliberately patronising, it wasn't premeditated. It was all in good spirit because Murray has enormous respect for the Swiss. It made 400 people laugh, including Roger. But make no mistake, this was not something he would have done a year ago.
Murray, naturally shy, owned the stage at that moment and looked every bit an Olympic champion and Grand Slam winner. It was the first time I have seen him dominate Federer in public, without a tennis racquet in his hand. Read into that what you will.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanoverend/2012/11/one_final_push_for_worlds_top.html
