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[allyh84]

After flourishing in the opening set, Andy Murray was completely outclassed by Roger Federer in the ATP World Tour Finals at London’s 02 Arena. More than 17,000 largely pro-Murray spectators oversaw the Scot lose 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Federer bounced onto the icy, blue court like a coiled spring and won a break at the first time of asking with a couple of extravagant cross court forehands that left his rival chasing shadows. Murray appeared immediately galvanised and levelled the scores to break after a let chord fell fortuitously to allow the 23 year old to swat a passing forehand winner.  Both men adopted a little more rhythm as the match turned into an exhibition of mouth-watering spin, slice, touch and feel. The variation in the exchanges was a joy to behold and each player was being taunted to make an advantage for themselves.

Murray broke Federer again in the sixth game to go 4-2 up and it was fitting that it was a tense, long rally which saw the break. Like so many rallies in the first set, time seemed to stand still as each shot was played with optimum precision and delicacy. Federer was the first to become psyched out and hit a backhand wide to put Murray into an unassailable lead.  Murray served 6 aces in the first set and despite retreating to Deuce after serving for the set at 40-0 up, Britain’s number 1 held his nerve to take the set.

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Federer entered the second set with a new lease of life. The Swiss started to hold with minimum hassle and showed his silky smooth class to break with a few precise cross court winners and race into a 4-2 advantage. There are times when watching the 15 time Grand Slam champion that you feel lucky just to be witnessing the two fighters at each side of the net. The seventh game of the set gave us one of these moments like an early, intricately wrapped Christmas present. At Deuce, Federer shrewdly crept towards the net and showed graceful, feather like hands to gently dink the ball over the net as it softly dropped. Murray chased in vain but was given no chance.  Federer did not even relinquish one break point for the entire set and the tale of the set told as Murray miscued twice on his own serve to give his opposite number the set by a score of 6-3.

Federer so often strolls into matches a little rusty before turning on the style to blow his opponents away in the latter stages. In his opening match on Sunday evening, Fernando Verdasco had the better of Federer but like tonight against Murray, Federer apparently got bored and decided to shut up shop early. The 28 year old played some devilishly delightful tennis in the closing set and sprinted to a 4-1 lead as Murray’s first serve began to go elsewhere. Murray’s gameplan was ripped to tatters as Federer kept rallies short and dictated proceedings whole heartedly. With Murray serving to stay in it at 5-1, Federer wrestled to Deuce an astounding six times before forcing Murray into a backhand mistake to take the match on his third match point. It is still possible for Murray to join Federer in advancing to a lucrative semi-final spot with the London native playing the twice defeated and dejected Fernando Verdasco on Thursday. Federer will next lock horns with Juan Martin Del Potro in a repeat of this year’s emotionally draining US Open finale on the same day.

[Allan]

A brief analysis/summary from me

In the 2nd and 3rd sets Federer found a great rhythm on his first serve which allowed him to dictate his own serve games. Particularly in the 3rd, missing only 2 first serves. This gave Federer a big confidence boost and allowed him to concentrate more on breaking serve.

Whereas Andy return level dropped off slightly which increased the pressure in his own service games. Throughout the match Andy's first serve percentage was below 50% for whatever reason which simple isn't good enough against Federer. Andy tried to make up for this with the rest of his game but it just collapsed.

[Bevc]

Nice write up.   Fedex had to/did play a blinder.

Just thinking, did all that adrenalin Andy have in the 1st set zap his energy levels in the 2nd/3rd sets?  Not that I'm making excuses.............

[allyh84]

I actually have applied for many places at the BBC hahah. Impossible!

[nestingus]

So a straight sets win against Nando will see him through?

[Elly]

So a straight sets win against Nando will see him through?

I think so. 

[Joe]

Well just back from the O2 (Transport For London are a disgrace, something about piss-ups in breweries and not being able to organise them comes to mind).

Great stadium, great atmosphere, ok match, shite result. Andy was looking good in that first set but Federer inevitably came back into it and Murray faded for some reason. The last set was pathetic. Couldn't hit a first serve and could barely get the ball over the net. Regulation backhands were dumped into the net, forehands that were always in earlier were going wide. Not sure what was up with him but it was crap by the end.
Same old problems: first serve percentage, second serve power/placement. Some good aggression at times but that turned into errors by the end of the match.

Still think Murray is a cert to go through as he should beat Verdasco and Federer should beat Del P - not sure what happens if he doesn't beat Nando though!

Also not sure I agree with the part of the report about the mainly pro-Murray crowd. There were lots of Murray backers in there but an awful lot of Fedtards too and it was the Frauderer who got the biggest cheers whenever things went his way. Sickened me. Shanky is the Manchester United of tennis - those without much knowledge jump on the bandwagon for the glory and piss everyone else off (I'm a Man U fan too, btw, but I'd imagine it's how other football fans feel! ).

Back there tomorrow night for Nadal v Donkey, should be interesting but the main attraction was of course tonight.

I see has been up to his old tricks on other threads!

Night all.

[boogers]

Nice report!

Murray is looking completely second rate these days. His forehand is a total liability and the less said about his serve the better. Not sure what the problem is - his game seems to have taken a massive backwards step since Wimbledon.