• Australian Open, Day 14

Awesome Federer too good for Murray

ESPN staff
January 31, 2010
Roger Federer claims his 16th career Grand Slam © Getty Images
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Tearful Murray apologises
Day 14 in pictures

Roger Federer was in devastating form as he denied Andy Murray a historic victory in the Australian Open final, overwhelming the Briton in straight sets.

Federer has not shown such world class consistency arguably since Rafael Nadal challenged his status at the pinnacle of the men's game. The world No. 1 was typically powerful off his forehand side, finding the lines almost at will, but it was the backhand that tormented Murray in a 6-3 6-4 7-6(11) victory that claimed Federer's fourth Australian Open title.

This was Murray's chance to erase the 74-year wait since Britain's last Grand Slam triumph with Fred Perry and, having beaten Nadal and Marin Cilic on his way to the final, he entered Sunday's showpiece in the form of his life. He had even beaten Federer in their two most recent previous encounters.

Murray brought his best game too, particularly in the first set when he responded to an early break of his own serve by immediately hitting back, producing an unreal backhand winner from row B in the Rod Laver Arena to announce his arrival in the contest. Unfortunately, Murray's best game still falls some way short of Federer's.

The world No. 1 dominated from start to finish in Melbourne, breaking in the second game of the match with an eye-catching inside-out forehand, and then again in the eighth game after a backhand winner set up the break opportunity. Federer's backhand would haunt Murray all day.

Only once in the entire match did Murray sniff an opportunity to take the driving seat, failing to take three break points at 2-2 in the first set, and once Federer was clear of danger he never looked back - sending Murray wide with a wonderful cross-court backhand to close out the set 6-3 in 43 minutes.

Murray brought his best game, but it wasn't good enough to beat Federer © Getty Images
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Murray had no need panic, he had lost the opening set of his semi-final to Cilic before storming to victory, and a passionate fist-pump at the start of the second set suggested he was not about to give Federer an easy ride. His first-serve percentage suddenly hit 70%, yet Federer still remained in total control.

A break to love in the fourth game was enough to claim a two-set advantage, but that was just one of seven break chances created by the Swiss. A tally of 16 winners to Murray's seven told the story of the second set, although a footnote would have read: 'Federer's backhand, unstoppable'.

Adding to Murray's woes was a foot injury that began to hinder his ability to turn sharply at the start of the third set, yet an unexpected series of unforced errors by Federer gifted Murray his second break of the match to lead 4-2. The Briton could not serve out the set though, succumbing to yet another delightful Federer backhand, forcing matters into a tie-break.

Murray was playing on a knife-edge, twice creating set point only to throw the opportunities away with guilt-edged unforced errors. Federer became equally tight, sinking a slice into the net to allow Murray two more set-points, unconverted once more by the underdog.

In the end, Murray's nerve wilted as a backhand sunk into the net, handing Federer the tie-breaker 13-11 to claim his 16th Grand Slam title.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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