Federer outclasses Andy Murray

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.

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.