ATP Tour - Murray extends run over Federer

Eurosport - Sat, 03 Jan 13:12:00 2009

Andy Murray recovered from a set down to beat world number two Roger Federer 4-6 6-2 7-6 (8) in the semi-finals of the World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

TENNIS 2009 Andy Murray from Britain returns the ball to James Blake from the United States during the first day of Capitala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi - 0

The world number four has now won three successive matches over Federer since losing in straight sets in the US Open final last September - extending his winning record over the Swiss to 5-2.

"It's always a challenge playing Roger," said Murray. "I've got the better of him on a few occasions, but in the big one we played, at the US Open final, he beat me pretty badly.

"Hopefully, I'll get him in a Grand Slam [again] one day.

"It would be nice to become the number one player in the world, but my aim for 2009 is to win a Grand Slam event, and I feel the Australian Open is my best chance.

"So this is a really nice preparation for that."

Murray will now face world number one Rafael Nadal in the final after the Spaniard came through his clash with Nikolay Davydenko 6-2 6-3.

Murray made a slow start to the match, dropping his serve in just the second game and allowing Federer to race into a 3-0 lead.

But he quickly found his composure, breaking back in the fifth game, whipping a forehand across court at an acute angle to deny Federer a game point before sealing the break by placing a drop shot right at the feet of his opponent.

Murray could not stick with Federer though and the world number two broke the Scot's serve again to steal the first set on a double fault.

But as is so often the case when Murray faces Federer, the 21-year-old recovered quickly from dropping the opening set and immediately took the lead in the second set.

Murray broke in the first and third games on his way to a 4-0 lead before Federer could finally get on the scoreboard.

Federer did manage to get one of the breaks back, in the seventh game, when Murray double faulted; however he dropped his serve again in the next game, throwing in a double fault of his own as well as a couple of backhand errors and a wild forehand across court.

Murray quickly levelled up the match, serving out the set after an hour and two minutes.

The start of the third set was all Murray as Federer lost concentration and dropped his serve in the third and fifth games to leave the Scot leading 4-1.

But a mistimed jump to a straightforward overhead forehand in the sixth game seemed to unsettle Murray as, despite laughing about it with the crowd, he dropped his serve in that game when Federer found a forehand volley winner. He then dropped another in the eighth when he slapped a forehand long of the baseline.

Two holds apiece later and the match went to a tie-break. Despite taking the first two points, two forehand errors in quick succession from Federer, combined with an ace out wide from Murray, allowed the Scot to take a 4-2 mini-break lead.

Another two forehand errors shortly after the change of ends from Federer gifted Murray three match points.

The first went begging when Murray hit wide off the forehand side before Federer saved the second and third, with a stunning forehand deep into his opponent's backhand corner and an easy forehand volley respectively.

But it was the forehand that let Federer down once again as he slapped wide to hand Murray a fourth match point before hitting long to concede the match.

In the other semi-final Davydenko got off to a great start, breaking Nadal in the opening game to love. But the Spaniard quickly recovered and dominated the rest of the set.

The second set went in much the same fashion, with Nadal dropping his opening service game before bouncing back to dominate.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport

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  1. Go Rafa!!!

    From Amanda Hua, on Sat 3 Jan 4:17AM

  2. I do hope Rafa will be triumphant over Murray after­ this tourney..go Rafa

    From Bong, on Sat 3 Jan 2:26AM

  3. I agree that Federer prob wont dominate like he has in­ the past,after all he is n0 2 in the world.However i­ dont think anyone outside the top 3 will win a slam­ this year,the top 4 are lightyears ahead of the­ rest.Expect Mr Federer to be very motivated to regain­ his n0 1 status.He is still my favorite for wimbledon­ and the US,as he has been uterly dominant on these­ surfaces over the past 5 years,remember he was only a­ couple of points away from a 6th straight wimbledon­ last year.Do not write him off yet people,could be very­ unwise.

    From carlos480bc, on Sat 3 Jan 12:07AM

  4. I agree that Federer prob wont dominate like he has in­ the past,after all he is n0 2 in the world.However i­ dont think anyone outside the top 3 will win a slam­ this year,the top 4 are lightyears ahead of the­ rest.Expect Mr Federer to be very motivated to regain­ his n0 1 status.He is still my favorite for wimbledon­ and the US,as he has been uterly dominant on these­ surfaces over the past 5 years,remember he was only a­ couple of points away from a 6th straight wimbledon­ last year.Do not write him off yet people,could be very­ unwise.

    From carlos480bc, on Sat 3 Jan 12:05AM

  5. I hope Rafa will beat Murray tomorrow.

    From Emir C, on Sat 3 Jan 12:03AM

  6. Hi georgemacleod2003, don't mean to argue with you­ but I didn't get it wrong. The UK is, as you kindly­ remind us, G.Britain and Northern Ireland but (and no­ contradiction here) N.-Ireland is, constitutionaly, one­ of the British isles....! That's all I meant. Ah,­ don't we love those blogs! Hope Federer does well­ in 2009, although I don't particularly like him,­ he's been given a hard time in 08 and that­ doesn't sound very fair, he is one of the best and­ deserved a bit more RESPECT!!

    From Arnauld D, on Fri 2 Jan 11:57PM

  7. Point 57, as always with everything

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Fri 2 Jan 11:12PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i reckon feds time of being the biggest threat is over,­ in most competitions id just consider him as the­ outside favourite to be honest.
    i a coupla years murray­ will be number 1 or 2. im pretty sure.

    SCOTTISH NOT­ BRITISH

    From Angus, on Fri 2 Jan 10:07PM

  9. I am sure there are some exellent geography sites for­ you all to bore each other to death on.Its a shame you­ cant all marvel at what a talented player Murray­ is,rather than this boring British Engish Scotish­ debate.I met Murray at Wimbledon last year,and watched­ as this guy signed at least 300 aughtographs for the­ kids and fans that waited for him next to the practice­ courts,something that not all the players do(mr­ Nadal).Get behind him and enjoy his game,for he he a­ gifted young man with an extreme will to win.

    From carlos480bc, on Fri 2 Jan 8:19PM

  10. murry u rock

    From david.khanna, on Fri 2 Jan 7:58PM

  11. Desandere has got it wrong. England Scotland and Wales­ constitute Great Britain. Great Britain plus Northern­ Ireland is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and­ Northern Ireland.

    George from Spain

    From George, on Fri 2 Jan 7:47PM

  12. SCOTTISH first brittish second remember!

    From sizey101, on Fri 2 Jan 7:45PM

  13. Hey Alex and Jeff C, Great Britain = England, Scotland­ and Wales. Northern Ireland is part of the British­ Isles.... Murray is both Scottish and British.

    From Arnauld D, on Fri 2 Jan 7:16PM

  14. In effect it is a chance to get rid of some of the rust­ aquired in the close season.There really is nothing at­ stake here.To say Federer should retire after one match­ in an exihbition is quite frankly a joke ! It seems­ there are alot of uninformed people,with little or no­ knowledge of tennis making ridiculous statements.People­ should remember who Roger Federer is and what he has­ achieved,something you can bet Nadal and Murray will be­ doing all season.Remember Federer won the last slam of­ last season Good luck to Federer Nadal murray and­ Djokovic in 2009.

    From carlos480bc, on Fri 2 Jan 7:01PM

  15. Federer still has dominating stuff on both sides.­ Movement, forehand and backhand are all in a different­ class to anyone else on the tour. He beat himself, more­ out of boredom than anything else. There were times­ today where he played at a walking pace, just because­ he could-it was embarrassing for Murray, a good player­ who incurred the whipcrack of Jolly Roger's­ baseline cat o' nine tails. "The Great­ Man" will rise once again in 2009 and win all four­ grand slams this time.

    From jakesbriskett, on Fri 2 Jan 6:54PM

  16. Everyone take a deep breath,this event is an­ exhibition,a tune up for he aussie Open

    From carlos480bc, on Fri 2 Jan 6:53PM

  17. it will be a great final tomorrow. but the real matches­ begins next week in Doha. Murray are defending champion­ so theres some preasure on him.

    From markwandy, on Fri 2 Jan 6:52PM

  18. rc_alcock is just that.....ALL @#$%

    From offmymash, on Fri 2 Jan 6:51PM

  19. Great Britain = England, Wales, Scotland and Northern­ Ireland. Murrey born in Scotland.

    From Jeff C, on Fri 2 Jan 6:44PM

  20. Great Britain =/=England. Great Britain includes­ England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island. Murray is­ Scottish. You obviously got English and British­ confused.

    From Alex, on Fri 2 Jan 6:16PM
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