Turning Points
Sunday, Day 14 - Roger Federer v Andy Murray
Roger Federer
It could not have been known at the time, but RogerFederer's 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 win over Pete Sampras in the round-of-16 at the 2001 Wimbledon was a passing of the torch. It was the only time they met. What could not have been known then was that Sampras, 29, had won the last of his seven Wimbledons, and that Federerwould win six in the next eight (2002-2009). Sampras was the gold standard in those days but Federer went on an unprecedented tear from 2003 to 2009, winning 15 Grand Slams to break the American's record of 14. He also completed his career Grand Slam by winning the French Open last year (something Sampras did not accomplish - never even making the final) to surely cement his stature as the best of the modern era, and probably any era. At 28, and with wife a wife and twin daughters, he is in some ways back to the days of his 2001 Wimbledon upset of Sampras - playing without much pressure, and just for joy and satisfaction of practising his craft.
Andy Murray
It is one thing to come from a tennis-playing family, it isanother to decide on your own as a teenager that you want to leave home and go to Spain for three years to train away from the harsh climate of Scotland. That is what Andy Murray did at 15, and it proved a character-building experience that has served him well as a professional. Murray was little slow coming to the awareness that heneeded to be physically fit, but a five-sets loss to David Nalbandian at Wimbledon in 2005, after leading two sets to love, helped him see light and he is now transformed into one of the finest physical specimens on the men's tour. A man who has candidly admitted he is not good at anything except playing tennis, Murray is Britain's great new hope, with more talent and a lot more of an edge than the gentlemanly Tim Henman.
22:44
Post-match So, it's goodbye from Rod Laver Arena for the very last time for 2010. Congratulations to Roger Federer for winning his fourth Australian Open title, Serena Williams for winning her fifth AustralianOpen title and all the other champions, finalists and players who contested Australian Open 2010. See you back here, same time, same place next year.
22:26
Post-match presentation ceremony Andy Murray salutes the crowd as he steps up to accept his runners-up trophy. He congratulates Roger "his achievements in tennis are incredible and to keep doing it is pretty special. He was a lot better than me tonight." Murray gets teary as he thanks the fans. Says: "I can cry like Roger, shame I can't play like him." Has to step away from the microphone unable to go on. Roger congratulates Murray for a fantastic week and thanks the fans for getting the best out of him. Says the players love coming to Australia otherwise they wouldn't be here. "This is very special, my first Grand Slam as a father." Federer takes a 'walk of fame' around the court so that the fans can take pics of him with the trophy.
22:25
Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:25:07 UTC -
22:18
Game, set, match, championship Federer 6-3 6-4 7-6(11) Second champiionship point to Federer 10-9 as he hits a dead backhand volley that drops well beyond the reach of the scrambling Murray. Murray serves a weak second serve and Federer devours the forehand return. Murray is on the ropes but somehow manages to punt the backhand reply back into court. Federer dropshots and Murray gives every inch of effort in running the ball down and pushing it down the line past the volleying Federer. It's in by a smidge and it's 10-10. Backhand error by Federer into the net and a fifth set point for Murray at 11-10 but he can't control his backhand on the next point and it's 11-11. Federer earns his third championship point when he thumps a forhand down the line winner. Murray grabs his left hip as the ball sails past him. Murray serves trailing 11-12 and Federer smashes the return. The Brit plops a tame backhand into the net and it's all over. Roger Federer has his fourth Australian Open title.
22:12
Third set tiebreak 9-9 Federer strikes a routine forehand long to hand Murray a third set point. He misses his first serve and, after a long backhand cross-court rally the world No.1 runs around the ball and strats striking forehands. Murray works his way into the net and earns himself a sitting backhand volley but he fluffs the shot wide into the trams. Federer steps up and slices a 179kph ace - his 11th for the match, to bring up championship point 8-7. The men play a remarkable point both scrambling to stay in the rally. Again Murray races to the net but this time he doesn't make a mistake on the volley, punching it into the forehand corner of Federer. Somehow the world No.1 gets a racquet to it and feeds it down the line. The crowd holds its breath as the ball lands out by a whisker. 8-8. Murray takes the lead at 9-8 with a fourth set point but miscues a backhand lob on the next point and the players. are locked at 9-9 as they again exchange ends.
22:07
Third set tiebreak - 6-6 Another error from Murray and he's trailing 3-4 and serving. He makes amends by strking a clean cross-court forehand winner to level things up at 4-4. Ace number 10 for Murray and he takes the lead again 5-4. Murray earns himself two set points, his first of the match, with a dipping forehand that beats the volleying Federer, 6-4 Murray. The world No.1 saves the first with the most acute of off-forehands. Federer still faces a set point but Murray fluffs and easy forehand down the line off a soft chipped Federer backhand and it's 6-6 as the men turn around the net again.
22:04
Third set tiebreak - 3-3 Murray claims the first two points and a minibreak but imediately concedes it by striking a backhand groundstoke over the baseline for 2-1. The world No.4 pounds the forehand of Federer until he draws an error and takes a 3-1 lead in the breaker. Two-consecutive Murray errors and the breaker is back at 3-3 with the Brit gesturing palms up to the sky.
22:03
Third set - 6-6 Federer makes a statement, serving up another love service game to take the third set into a tiebreak.
21:55
Third set - Murray 6-5 Murray leads 40-30 on serve but Federer pulls it back to deuce playing a (frankly outrageous) forehand volley off his bootstraps which only just beats the chasing Brit and it's back to deuce. Throughout this match Murray has matched Federer for groundstroke firepower but lacked the accuracy of the world No.1. Now he steadies to hold serve and draw ahead again, serving his eighth ace of the match to clinch the game.
21:50
Third set - 5-5 Federer holds serve for the loss of two points and appears rejuvinated out there. Murray is having some trouble with his footwear and, at the end of the game, examines the toe of his right shoe which is completely worn through.
21:43
Third set - Murray 5-4 Murray, serving for the third set, trails 15-30 but pounds a cross-court forehand into the Federer forehand wing to bring the game back to 30-30. Federer smashes a dismissive forehand return winner past Murray who immediately questions the call. Hawkeye reveals the ball to be well on the line. It's advantage Federer. Murray rushes the net on the next point and watches a Federer lob sail over his head. He opts not to chase and is vindicated when it drops out by the narrowest of margins - deuce. Murray nets a backhand volley to give Federer break back point and, after a long rally, Murray nets a routine forehand groundstroke to hand the world No.1 the break back.
21:41
Third set - Murray 5-3 The consumate professional, Federer serves up a love service game. He sits at 76% of first serves in for this set, converting those first serves 74% of the time.
21:36
Third set - Murray 5-2 Murray surges ahead in the third set. The British No.1 looks a different player out on Rod Laver Arena at the moment. Federer will have to play a better service game if he's to keep this third set alive.
21:32
Third set - Murray 4-2 Against the run of play Federer trails 0-40 on serve Murray has three break points to take the lead in this third set. He needs all three, finally punching away a forehand after a close-range volley rally. The crowd is on its feet. As Murray heads back on court from the sit down he urges the crowd to support him.
21:28
Third set - Murray 3-2 Murray drops two points in holding serve. Passionate fan cries: "C'mon Murray you can do it, c'mon" from the crowd.
21:24
Third set - 2-2 No impression by Murray on the Federer serve there. Another easy hold for the Swiss man. The world No.4 looks visably frustrated out there now and the energy levels are dipping by the second in this third set. Federer holds to stay on terms in the third set.
21:21
Third set - Murray 2-1 A love service game to Murray capped off by his fourth ace of the match. His mum Judy continues to look hopeful courtside.
21:18
Third set - 1-1 Murray plays his trademark cat-and-mouse game to earn a rare break point on the Federer serve (he's had five opportunities to Federer's 10 so far this match). The Brit drives a backhand long over the baseline and takes a swipe at the court with his racquet. Federer gives Murray a long look down the court. Federer gets game point by executing a gravity-defying backhand smash off a lob Murray plays with his nose hanging over the net. The world No.1 holds with another impossible-to-return serve.
21:12
Third set - Murray 1-0 A relatively easy hold for Murray as the finalists embark on this third set. Federer's serve really carried him through the second set. He scored three aces, got in 68% of his first serves winning 76% of points when he did. On top of that he struck 19 clean winners for the set and won a total 35 points to 28 from Murray. Encouraging stat for Murray: Rod Laver came back from two sets down to win the Australian Open in 1960 - his first major title - 50 years ago tomorrow!
21:07
Second set - Federer 6-4 Federer earns himself three set points thanks to a 206 kph ace, his third for the set and seventh for the match.He fluffs the first with a long backhand drive but gives the Brit the run-around on the next point to hold serve and take a two-sets to love lead in this men's final. The world No.1 is in stunning form. It seems there is not a spot on court Federer can't hit at this stage of the final, so beautifully is he striking the ball. Murray needs to unearth some of the fire that has carried him through many a daunting Davis Cup encounter for Great Britain.
21:05
Second set - Federer 5-4 Another solid service game from Murray. He's serving well - at 59% on the first serve - and converting 63% of points when he gets it in. Still trails Federer on the winners count though by nine to the world No.1's 16 for this set.
21:00
Second set - Federer 5-3 Three big serves from Federer followed by a classic one-two serve-volley knock-out punch and the world No.1 holds serve and extends his lead. He stands within one game of taking a two-sets to love lead in this final. Will we see a replay of the opener with Murray dropping serve to hand the set to his opponent?
20:52
Second set - Federer 4-3 Federer is all over his returns out there and grabs a 40-0 lead on the Murray serve. The Brit digs depp and fights his way back to deuce, successfully mixing up the pace on his groundstrokes to draw errors from the Swiss man's racquet. Really gutsy play from the world No.4 as he outrallies Federer to hold serve and stay within one service break of the world No.1. Since being broken earlier in this set, Murray has saved six break points.
20:47
Second set - Federer 4-2 Tit-for-tat net-chord points, the first to Federer, the second to Murray, bring the score to deuce. Fed slices a 202kph serve down the trams and follows it in for another of those flying, feet-in-the-air forehand winners and he has game point. He makes an error for deuce but is soon opening up the court with those wonderous groundstrokes once again, grabbing a second game point. An unreturnable 209kph serve and the world No.1 holds serve.
20:42
Second set - Federer 3-2 More pressure on the Murray serve and a third break point for the Swiss man in this set. The world No.4 saves it and fires down his second ace for the match to bring up a game point of his own. Netted shot by Federer off the backhand and it's game Murray.
20:38
Second set - Federer 3-1 Murray puts his best foot forward and claims a couple of points on the Federer serve but the Swiss man is looking simply dominant out there right now. He extends his lead by rushing the net and pounding a short ball with yet another forehand winner.
20:34
Second set - Federer 2-1 Federer breaks the Murray serve to love and leaves the Brit looking a little baffled out there. There's a lone cry of: "c'mon Andy" as the men head to the chair.
20:31
Second set - 1-1 Federer responds with an easy service game of his own. Murray's forehand is a little hot and cold so far tonight. He hits one blistering drive that Federer can't control during that game but mis-cues one wide in the deciding point.
20:25
Second set - Murray 1-0 A reassuringly easy service game for Murray. A look at the first set stats tells us that Federer's 17 winners and four aces went a long way to deciding the opener. The Brit, by comparison, hit six winners and committed 11 unforced errors.
20:22
First set - Federer 6-3 More fabulous forehands from Federer and the Swiss man stands at two set points. He needs only one, running Murray so far wide on the backhand that the Brit has to attempt a backhand drive wide of the netpost. It misses the baseline, although not by a lot, and Federer takes a one-set to love lead in the men's final.
20:16
First set - 5-3 Murray trails 0-30 on serve. He steadies himself with a 212kph serve into Fed's backhand for 15-30. A longish-point follows that ultimately sees the world No.1 chip a stretching backhand into the net and it's 30-30. Federer earns his third break point opportunity for the match with a trademark down the line backhand winner. He brings his break point conversion rate to two from three as he gives Murray the run around before punching home another off-forehand winner for the break. He stands one game away from taking this opening set.
20:11
First set - Federer 4-3 Fed goes down 15-30 on serve after striking his first double fault for the match. The world No.1 looks a little puzzled out there but his confusion soon clears as he strikes a sweet forhand into Murray's backhand corner and brings things back to 30-30. Murray is left kicking himself as he slides off an attempted cross-court forehand to give Federer game point and the Swiss man converts it with an unreturnable 206kph serve.
20:07
First set - 3-3 An easier service game to Murray - he holds to 15. Has another successful challenge during the course of the game. The Brit has been spot-on with the video line calling system all week. Level again.
19:59
First set - Federer 3-2 The opening point of the fifth game is the longest of the match so far - by a very long way. The two players test out every inch of the court in a rally that looks as easy as a casual warm-up. Federer trails 15-40 on serve after netting a backhand volley. Backhand errors seem to be the theme for this final at the moment - will they decide it? An error from Murray and an unreturnable serve by Federer and it's deuce. Murray takes the advantage when Federer sweeps a forehand well long of the baseline but Federer saves it when his British opponent...you guessed it...nets a backhand passing shot. Consecutive aces from Federer, the second clocking 196kph - and he regains the lead in the first set.
19:53
First set - 2-2 Federer takes a 30-15 lead on the Murray serve and looks to extend it to 40-15 but the Brit stops a point, challenges Federer forehand called good on the baseline, and Hawkeye agrees. It's 30-30. Two unforced backhand errors from the world No.1 and the opener is on level terms. The roof is open about 40-feet - just in case there's more rain we guess.
19:50
First set - Federer 2-1 Murray's form in the first couple of games of this match was a little reminiscent of the first set of his semi against Cilic but the Brit is starting to turn it on now. His passing shots are finding their target and Federer claims just one point on serve to hand the No.5 seed the break back.
19:45
First set - Federer 2-0 With perfect symmetry Federer takes the first two points on the Murray serve. Then he re-writes the script of the first game and strikes a clean backhand winner down the line to take a 40-0 lead on the Murray serve. He misses the first break point with a wide forehand down the line but makes amends on the next point with a fizzing off-forehand crosscourt that leaves Murray stumbling, unable to get a racquet on it. First blood to the world No.1 in the final.
19:42
First set - Federer 1-0 Murray is fastest out of the blocks and takes a 30-0 lead on the Federer serve. The world No.1 ups the agression and wins three-consecutive points to earn a game point. A tame Federer backhand into the net gets the Brit back to deuce. Murray misses a backhand, long, and again it's game point Federer. Murray misses another backhand, this one into the net, and the Swiss man takes the opening game of this final.
19:34
Pre-match Federer is the top seed in Melbourne. Tonight he is bidding for a 16th Grand Slam title. He hs won three of four Australian Open finals he's contested. Andy Murray is the British No.1 and is playing in his second Grand Slam final having lost to Federer in the 2008 US Open finale. Federer won the toss and chose the end to the left of the umpire's chair, Murray chose to receive. So, Federer serving first in this final and by the sound of the crowd out there they are heavily in the world No.1's favour at the early stages of this match.
19:32
Australian Open men's final - pre-match Welcome to Rod Laver for the very last match of Australian Open 2010 - the men's singles final between world No.1 Roger Federer of Switzerland and tournament No.5 seed Andy Murray of Great Britain. The Jersey Boys cast has sung the national anthem and the players are warming up. The good news is that the rain has stopped and the roof is open on RLA.
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