Andy Murray crushed by ruthless Federer

Andy Murray was again outclassed by a magnificent Federer, surrendering 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) at the Australian Open.

Federer served in the opening game and Murray made a bright start, winning the first two points with a backhand down the line and deep return. Federer reasserted himself and took the game from deuce.

After what appeared to be a confident opening, Murrays first service game demonstrated just how nervous he felt. A tentative serve on the first point and double fault on the second saw him slip to 0-30, before a beautiful backhand down the line from Federer yielded three break points. The Swiss converted on his second, thrashing a forehand into the corner.

Murray responded to this setback as he has all tournament, chasing down a slightly-too-deep Federer dropshot and hitting a trademark cross-court passing shot to bring up two break points. One was enough, with another cross court pass getting the Scot onto the scoreboard and eliciting a roared “CUMMONN!”

After holding serve for the first time to take the set to 2-2, Murray brought up two more breakpoints on Federers serve. He was unable to convert the first, before the Federer serve clicked into gear and the Swiss evaded the danger.

The pair exchanged service holds until 4-3, when a Murray double fault and unforced error opened the door for a break. The world number one saw the chance and smashed the door open with a murderous down the line backhand and  unplayable forehand winner.  Murray was unable to respond as he did earlier in the set and Federer served out the set.

The second set was one way traffic. Federer was now in imperious form and every service game was a struggle for the Scot. A barrage of forehand and backhand winners gave Federer the decisive break of the set at 1-1. More breakpoints came and went for Federer at 3-1 and 4-2, but despite salvaging holds in both cases, Murray was unable to exert any pressure on the Federer serve.

The third set was the closest of the match. Murray was now going for his shots, and his first serve had begun to splutter into life. A breakpoint for the Scot came and went at 1-0 before a scrambled volley and pass at 3-2 put Murray in front for the first time in the match.

Murray had the opportunity to serve for the set at 5-3, but a combination of Murray errors and sublime hitting from Federer saw the chance slip from his hands. Both players held to force the tiebreak.

Murray served first, banging in an ace before forcing an error from the Federer serve to bring up the first minibreak. A horrible miss-hit backhand at 3-1 saw the advantage evaporate. A scorching Murray forehand at 4-3, followed by and ace and an absurd cross-court passing shot took the score to 6-4 and two set points for Murray. Federer saved the first with a staggering angled forehand before Murray slapped a tame forehand into the net with the whole court open. A total of five set points came and went, but Murray was unable to execute when he really needed to and a final tame backhand into the net saw Federer win yet another Slam.

This was a far better performance than the USO '08 final, but again Murray came up against the undisputed greatest player in history in full pomp. The deciding factor was probably the Murray first serve, which was missing at crucial junctures.

So the wait for a British Slam winner continues, and the question on everyones lips is: when is Federer going to retire?