Federer routs Murray in style
World number two in sublime form as he moved closer to a place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals.
LONDON:
World number two Roger Federer was in sublime form as he moved closer to a place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Andy Murray at London’s O2 Arena.
Federer had lost his last two meetings with Murray and has never been completely comfortable when facing the British number one, but the Swiss star was at his imperious best as he romped to his second successive Group B victory in the prestigious end-of-year event.
Federer was hitting with purpose and aggression and, although he wasted a break point in the opening game, he broke in the next service game with a blistering return. With Federer’s own serve in a smooth groove, was one brief glimmer of hope for Murray when he took a 30-0 lead as the Swiss served for the set.
Federer kept on coming at Murray in the second set and broke in the first game when he converted his third break point with a breath-taking cross-court winner. The Swiss then took advantage of Murray’s missed dropped shot to break again for a 3-0 lead only to serve out an emphatic victory.
Meanwhile, world number one Rafael Nadal had to dig deep before finally securing a hard-fought 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over Andy Roddick. Nadal has spent much of a remarkably successful season sweeping opponents aside with ease, but the Spaniard was pushed to the brink in his opening match of the prestigious end-of-year event at London’s O2 Arena.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2010.
World number two Roger Federer was in sublime form as he moved closer to a place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Andy Murray at London’s O2 Arena.
Federer had lost his last two meetings with Murray and has never been completely comfortable when facing the British number one, but the Swiss star was at his imperious best as he romped to his second successive Group B victory in the prestigious end-of-year event.
Federer was hitting with purpose and aggression and, although he wasted a break point in the opening game, he broke in the next service game with a blistering return. With Federer’s own serve in a smooth groove, was one brief glimmer of hope for Murray when he took a 30-0 lead as the Swiss served for the set.
Federer kept on coming at Murray in the second set and broke in the first game when he converted his third break point with a breath-taking cross-court winner. The Swiss then took advantage of Murray’s missed dropped shot to break again for a 3-0 lead only to serve out an emphatic victory.
Meanwhile, world number one Rafael Nadal had to dig deep before finally securing a hard-fought 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over Andy Roddick. Nadal has spent much of a remarkably successful season sweeping opponents aside with ease, but the Spaniard was pushed to the brink in his opening match of the prestigious end-of-year event at London’s O2 Arena.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2010.