True master class Rog. Please carry this form throughout

I have not been watching tennis lately, except for checking up on the FED results "BUT" I did watch this match against Murray. Murray was off for sure... (too bad...). The FED was being his good FED self today :) and did what he had to do. C'MON!

I haven't watched this match to be able to give a full analysis, but sounds like a comprehensive win for Fed. At least this will quieten the hype generated from Andy's victory in Shanghai that he's got Fed's number.

Another step towards a hopeful Nadal/Federer final.

congrats to fed and fans. played great and deserved to win. muzz played bad and deserved to lose.
re "hype" about muzz having fed's number since shanghai - i wouldn't call it hype, but it's been around for has long as muzz has been leading the h2h - lo-o-o-ong before shanghai:-) Personally, I don't know of any muzz fans who truly believe any of the top four (last week's top 4, that is) 'have' any of each other's 'numbers'. (They have all got sod's though).

It will still not surprise me if muzz wins the tourney - but then I won't be surprised if rafa, fed or djoker win it either - anyone else, I'll be very surprised.

Fed is again looking the strongest this week (- as he was in shanghai right up to the final).

söderling will come right back next year and climb even higher. murray was lucky to squeeze through that second set the other day... if murray had some more of söderling's (or nadal's) attitude he would be number 1...

Horrible performance from Murray, service percentages in the gutter, missing far too many shots. And Federer was absolute class today, the serve was firing very very well (check out Murrays return stats, Federer was almost untouchable) and we saw very little of the unforced error spraying we've seen in Federers game for most of the year.

Disappointed Murray didn't manage to at least force a 3rd set, a straight sets loss might be the difference between making it through and going out come Thursday.

Great win for Federer. He has a good chance of finishing on top of group b now.

I must say not Murray's best performance. I'm yet to see a match with both playing their A-game. While we've seen Fed's A-game ( in 2005-06), I don't think we've seen the best of Murray yet. If Fed's performance today is his A-game since his TMF days, I would like to see the Murray who played that Shanghai final pitch against this Fed. I think that Murray can give this Fed a run for his money. Too bad the wrong Murray turned up.

@ luckystar .. it is not just about A games .. it is also about doing well when you do not bring your A game to the court, thats where i envy Rafa .. it does not matter, he is almost 100% .. but Murray just like fed in the Shanghai Open .. just gave up .. even Djokovic, when things do not work .. never dig deep and gut it out .. Fed does sometimes .. but off late in 3 setters is very scary and indifferent .. check out the Monfils match .. he just could not find a way .. but for this Murray match .. he was very calm and focussed, not even 1 break point faced .. his serve carried him through and he was alot lot tighter with that forehand .. did not use it like a bazooka but more like a HP wand :)

luckystar,

I think the last time Fed and murray played each other at their A game was AO 2010 Final.

Both came in the final with very good performances but at the murray failed to hang in in the final.

Of the late Fed is trying to end the year at the high.

Though his session is a bit off(Poor from Fed's standards or atleast Fed's fan's expectation).

If Fed is able to win this WTF he will be the only player to win all different group of events in a same year.(250 , 500, Masters, GS and WTF).

Murray tanked to relieve some pressure off himself. Had he won, it would have been three in a row against Federer (a very rare occurrence), putting him in elite company and making him the outright favorite for the title - thus more pressure. It was a risky strategy because a win over Ferrer is not a lock, and if he loses, Federer could tank against Sod to kick Murray out (Fed knows he won't be as lucky if these two meet again in the final).

I don't know that AO 2010 final performance is Murray's A-game or not, but I feel he played better against Rafa on two occasions- AO 2010 QF and USO 2008 SF. Maybe Rafa allowed Murray played the way he played but Fed didn't allow Murray to. On grass I think Murray did bring his A-game against Rafa but lost due to a few errors here and there.

I feel there is room for improvement for both Murray and Rafa. Murray definitely has to learn to bring his A-game along when dealing with Fed or Rafa for that matter. We see once his serve is gone, he become so beatable, at least Rafa has many more weapons than his serves. Murray really needs to either improve the consistency of his serves, or else to develop some other reliable weapons, if not he'll really be at the mercy of other top players' rackets, Fed's in particular. I believe in Murray's talent, but I think his game style requires lots of energy, running around and hitting seemingly impossible shots, he's a bit like the earlier days Rafa. Rafa has since learnt to be more aggressive, maybe Murray can do something different now, like moving up the net, like the way he did against Nalby recently, to conserve some energy for the later round matches.

when was the last time yous saw murray win a close match? when was the last time yous even saw murray come back to win a match he lost the first set? he has a typical arrogant british attitude of only bothering when things go his way! it doesn't do him any good!

Samdaman,
Federer will play Soderling on Thursday before Murray plays Ferrer, so there is no possibility he would tank the match to deny Murray, although he needs only one set to qualify at the top of the group.

Sorry about double post, but it's just as relevant on this thread as the other ...

Something that has not been suggested as a possible (minor?) influence in muzz's underwhelming performance yesterday. NOT an excuse - fed fully deserved his win and would have had every chance of beating an on-game muzz - and not the only factor, BUT ...
What must it be like to show up in your home city and the capital of your home country, all keyed up for one of the biggest tennis occasions and, arguably, the most hyped event of the calendar, and enter the arena to deafening applause ... for the OTHER GUY? How thick-skinned, insular and crowd-resistant does a human being have to be not to care that a greater number of 'your own' are supporting the foreigner than you?
If it were me, I'd find it a bit of a stumbling block to say the least. And journalists speak of 'home advantage ... home crowd ... etc...'! Lol. If I were muzz, I?d find playing in an empty arena more uplifting than the 02 last night.
One thing's for sure, when muzz wins that first slam - and should he ever win Wimbie - he won't, and shouldn't, be doing it for Britain, and certainly not London. They're just not worth it. He'd be better commuting between Miami and Madrid.

croc , 11/24/10 10:56 AM That's rather harsh. I dont know about the stats you mention but I take issue with you accusing Murray of bad sportsmanship. I am choosing to ignore the inflammatory statement that giving up when losing is a typically arrogant British trait because that is patently nonsense.

@ ed251137,

I agree with you there but it is true that Andy gives up way too easily in that he has no fight and tenacity like Rafa!!! Apart from Rafa's skills, his fight is what makes him win his matches more often than not!! Its a shame that Murray with all his talent cannot be bothered to try to enjoy the game!!

I think that Murray can give this Fed a run for his money. Too bad the wrong Murray turned up.
luckystar
, 11/24/10 2:39 AM

disagree luckystar. if you watch the match again, you will see that federer definitely had a gameplan before he went onto the court. He played murray differently this time. It started with him deciding to receive, when in 99% of all cases he serves first. Then rather than hitting the ball cross court to murray (which murray loves as he is a great returner), fed started hitting the balls down the middle of the line. This was a complete turn around from federer and very, very clever play. Murray couldnt find any rhythm or pace as Fed completely out witted him.

good observation maxi, the next time Murray and the FED play should show how effective this change is against Murray, it will be more telling of the way things are. The FED is still a GREAT player. The hype around Murray toward the FED (as lebsta2 put it) should quieten (somewhat) now that the Fed has proven he can still beat Murray, and still beat him with style.