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9/8/08 2:02 PM | Cheryl Murray
Roger Federer and Andy Murray will do battle on Monday night in the US Open final. For Federer it is a chance to recapture the Grand Slam magic that he has missed this year. For Murray, it is a chance to prove that he is to be considered among the very best.
Andy Murray had never beaten Rafael Nadal before their semifinal match. Most of their matches, in fact, have been straight set affairs. All of that changed on Sunday, when Murray played brilliant, inspired tennis to oust the world number one in four. He comes into the final having beaten an impressive list of players including number ten seed Stanislas Wawrinka and Juan Martin Del Potro, and the then big win over Nadal.
Roger Federer did not meet a seeded opponent until Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Federer had a round of 16 scare against Igor Andreev. The Russian took Federer to five sets and Federer looked as though his tournament was in danger of ending. The Swiss maestro has had a dreadful (by his standards) year on hard court. This final will, in fact, be the furthest he has progressed in a hard court tournament. Novak Djokovic defeated him in the semifinals at the Australian Open.
These two men have only met three times, and surprisingly, Murray hold the edge on the world number two. Murray has won their two meetings, the most recent of which was in Dubai earlier this year. Murray has the kind of game that tends to give Federer trouble. The Swiss man likes to be fed pace; he uses it to his own advantage. Murray will not oblige. The Scot’s return game, however, is where Federer could really get into trouble. Federer’s first serve percentage has been spotty all year. If he does not serve well, Murray could well pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year and dethrone the four-time champ.
In the end, the thing that will save Federer is experience, I think. Murray has never been in a big situation like this, and the moment could very well get to him. Like Djokovic last year, expect four or five close sets with Federer the victor in the end.
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A great resultl!!!!
ed251137 , 9/9/08 2:22 AM
Andy Murray
Roger Federer
US Open
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um what r u talking about rog didnt meet a seeded opponent before djok?? both stephanek and andreev were seeded. it was rafa who hadnt met a seed before murray.
oh well... looks like my man just saved his season!! wahoooooooooo
kaitepai , 9/9/08 2:03 AM