Murry knocks out Federer
Andy Murray’s preparations for the new season gained momentum in Abu Dhabi as he defeated world number two Roger Federer to progress to the final of the invitational World Tennis Championship.
The Briton was sparked into action after losing the first set and went on to dominate his illustrious opponent for most of a 4-6 6-2 7-6 (8/6) victory which underlined his measure of the Swiss, whom he has now beaten five times in seven meetings.
Murray had looked home and dry at 4-1 in the deciding set and then 6-3 in the tie break but was made to battle all the way before Federer struck a forehand long to seal his fate.
An initially sluggish Murray was broken in his first service game and then failed to convert his own break point as the Swiss raced 3-0 ahead.
But Britain’s world number four bounced back to break Federer with a series of punishing shots from the baseline as he began to look comfortable in the Zayed Sports City arena where he hammered American James Blake yesterday.
