Federer 6-0 6-0 6-0

The only this that worries me in this matchup is Fed UE count . In the past Murray has been able to just keep returning all Fed's strokes and waiting for that mistake . If Fed can get to the winning shot of his before he makes the UE ...we're gold . This match is going to be won or lost on Fed's racket.
Del Potro came into the USO Final an underdog and ended up winning ...we are in the same predicament here ...i hope the FedExpress has learnt a lesson from that experience .
Federites UNITE ....FedExpress hitting warp speed heading toward station #16 . Looks like it was in Oz , not the US :P ( wink )

C'MON !!
AO10 ...time to lift another one down under

It is going to be Murray. He will return what were winners against Tsonga and counter punch. He will play on Federer's backhand and exploit the weakness, though not in the same measure that Nadal does. Plus he will serve equal number of aces. Every thing will depend on how many tie breakers are there. If there are more than two, Federer is the champion.

won and lost on fed's racket?? getting ready?? i didn't know he was playing himself!

I think its a 50/50 chances for both Fed and Murray. Murray played really well against an aggressive Rafa. Fed's performance against Davy seemed quite worrying at first, but he hung in there and waited for his chances and he played the last two set really well. I would say that though the match against Tsonga was one sided, a beat down in fact, Tsonga's performance was sub-par on that day. It's still not a good gauge of Fed's performance, though again he had shown us what he was/is capable of. I still think Murray's win against Rafa is more impressive than Fed's against Tsonga, given how well Rafa played compared to Tsonga.

Difficult to pick a winner, but I personally wish for a Murray win, as this will be his maiden slam if he wins.

homos: once again u r just brilliant mate! Come on! Andy in 5!

Andy M will be hard to beat if he stays with Fed in all points. But in WTF we've seen what Fed can do to Muzza's defensive game so if Fed attacks like he did in WTF and USO2008, the Fed will win whereas if Fed gets nervous and gets frustrated with Muzza's defensive game, then it's Murray's win.

federer is playing great.am really happy he is through to yet another final.that is the most crazy thing for me.

deuce,i want to wish you and your fellow murray fans the best of luck for tomorrow.i am looking forward to a great match,i hope it lives up to the hype.checking the bets,murray is the favourite deuce,but then that this the UK for you and he does have a very good chance.

I know that roger will be bringing his best game to AO tomorrow.he worked hard for this, had the toughest route in terms of ranked players and had the shakiest moment in two of those matches.(andreev) and (davydenko), yet still found a way.

I dont think torres, that fed will be doing anything other than playing aggressive,changing from offence to defence and will remain patient should he have some "tougher" moments.

C'mon Federer!
The spirit of a champion!

I'm a Federer fan but I am a bit worried. Sure he rolled over Tsonga, but Tsonga was mentally exhausted and gave up tamely by the end of the 2nd. Murray is on his best form right now - and he's definitely hungrier. And he wants to beat Federer for hsi first. Arghgh imagine all the annoying comments abou the 'passing of the torch to a new generation' if Murray wins! The real question is: Federer chips a lot of short backhands in and depends on his forehand for winners. But Murray can chase pretty much everything down and makes less mistakes. He is also as mentally tough as Federer, and let's face it, he's sort of an annoying guy to play against especially for Fed who sort of half-expects his great shots won't be returned.
the key will be if Federer is hitting clean and pure and his first serve is clicking (notice hsi ball toss is good and high again, not like at the US open) then maybe he can shake Murray up in the first set like Cilic did. But in a long match there will be lots of ups and downs, and plenty of unbelievable fist-pump shots from Murray that will energize him and annoy Federer.
It's going to be a great match. Come on Federer....

I agree with lucky star, Murray played superb against an aggressive Nadal, even though Nadal sustained an injury, he was playing superb and Murray impressivly held serve on the important break points, Tsonga practically rolled over for Fed apparently some tummy upset? he sure wasn't serving well and seemed to be just getting the ball back most of the time, there was no sign of Tsonga fire or brilliance, it was overall a poor performance, so I think the result is irrelevant, we all know Tsonga can play better than that whether Roger played well or not. Good luck to Murray, he can make this a real fight, its not the first time now so he should know what to expect from Roger.

let's just enjoy the match. It will be great. Murray did play excellent tennis against nadal and a lot of the talk is that murray would have won against nadal even if nadal wasnt injured(I think ricky mentioned something like that).murray is a formidable opponent.is growing in confidence and of course, can give federer a run for his money. but remember roger has played some unbelievable tennis and gains more confidence as the tournament goes into the final. pressure is on both of them.I think to look at federer's game against davy is probably the best indicator of where his game is at. Tsonga was not himself, as you say, afrodite. And remember all the talk was about davy winning because he was on such a high streak of wins.So federer should be very confident (feeling very confident), when he goes in match tomorrow. Equally,murray has a greater h2h, but roger won last two tournaments, so pretty even going in tomorrow. though I hear murray is favourite.

c'moon! Roger Federer!
The spirit of a champion!

Anyway we look at it, it should be a fun match to watch. "the FED has won the last two tournaments" (to quote maxi) is quite significant here. It means the FED has made proper/sufficient adjustments to Murray's tennis game to BEAT Murray. With a GRAND SLAM for grabs the FED will be "AS HUNGRY" as Murray. C'MON!!! :)

It'll be a passing of the torch if Muzza wins. :(

torres 9: nice comment but was torch passed to Delpot? Doesn't seem to have been, cos in next slam he's nowhere whereas here's Fed back again. Torch went out a bit quick.

the day someone beats fed in the GS final and shows up in the next GS final and Fed is not there ...then the torch has been passed . Could Murray win this and then proceed to the French Final ? I dont know ....but i hope the FedExpress is still firing on all cylinders and hands out a tennis lesson 2moro ...it just does not seem like time yet for the torch to be passed

C'MON !!
AO10 ...time to lift another one down under.

My pre-tournament favourites to win were: 1st - fed; 2nd equal - muzz and djoker. Given the way the draw panned out, that meant fed beating muzz in the final. Having gone with that at the outside, regrettably, I'm too scared to change it now, especially as fed has moved into cruise mode.

HOWEVER!

All this talk about the outcome depending on how well fed plays or doesn't play is not just disrestpectful to muzz: it's absolute rubbish!

There has been no more thrilling player to watch this tournament than Muzz , with at least 3 or 4 of the best shots played in the entire tournament, 2 of them in the SF that the TT pundits were predicting muzz would lose, and 1 of which turned the entire match around.

If both fed and muzz both play to their potential there will still be very little in it. I'm only expecting fed to win because he is probably more likely to be relaxed enough to play his free-flowing best.

GOOOOOOOO MUZZZZZZZZ!!!

"It's time for change ... YES YOU CAN, YES YOU CAN ... !!!"

alex, good luck to you tomorrow, it will be an exciting match for certain. scary at times too! but this is federer in a GS slam final tomorrow! yumma, yumma,yumma,yumma! c'moon the fed! he has to be feeling good about his chances tomorrow and he will be looking for that 16th win.

Federer can do it! I'm sticking with him!

Go federer!
The spirit of a champion!

likewise maxi, and may the best man win.

And may tennis be the winner too.

alex,

about the final:
tennis has won already. dont you think? :)

@ricky ,i have responded to the email ,thanks alot.

guest handicapper added to the Federer-Murray blog:

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/blog/Ricky_Dimon/20100129/Austra lian_Open_final:_Federer_vs._Murray_-_Expert_Picks

This match is going to be won or lost on Fed's racket.
fedexfan , 1/30/10 6:19 AM


It's this sort of patronizing comment that turns people off Federer no one would believe that Murray has a favouralbe h2h against him.


Get Well Soon Rafa. Tennis needs you badly.
Vamos

C'moon Federer!
The spirit of a champion!

maxi - yep, I agree. To 5:51 that is, not 9:25 :)

carrie - exactly what I was referring to at 3:03 :(

alex,
sleep well tonight! Game on tomorrow!

Go Federer! Do it for the twins!

Federer will win this if he doesn't choke like he has done in 3 out of 4 GS finals in 2009. Hope he plays his best (and Murray as well of course)!

Carrie you have done the same for Rafa several times .

Well, given the time difference in Chicago, I'm going to take a pasadena on watching this one live, alas. Fed Heds and Muzz Zealots on this site, enjoy the match. It should be a good one. I'll be watching in the morning via espn's Web replay.

Please just do me a favor and don't tell who wins before I get done watching. ;-)

kthxbie

tHE fED iS dER 2 pREVAIL...... aNDY dOES nOT hOLD A cHANCE aGAINST fED.......

aLERRRRRR rOgER............

deuce and all muzzateers -

THIS IS IT! Here I am, a nervous wreck, big space between couch and wall, mute button close at hand, can hardly bear to watch - how much of this do we have to go through before muzz wins a slam .... :(

Go muzz!!!

alex,

how did you sleep last night?
Here we are. This is it. Hopefully swiss bliss!

All the best everyone!

C'moon Federer!

alex I know how you feel. I remember watching Rafa vs Fed Wim 08. I was sitting at the edge of my bed that night/morning (different time zone from the UK, it was early morning at my time zone). The match went well until that fourth set tie-break. I almost fell from my bed when Rafa choked during that tie-break and lost the fourth set. I thought it was all over for Rafa; but then Rafa once again proved to us what he was made of. All I can say is if it is time for one to shine, all the stars will align for him, and no one could stop him. Whether we worry or not, it wouldn't change a thing. So sit back and enjoy Murray's game and if his time has come, nobody can take anything away from him.

luckystar, your right. what will be will be.

It's hot, even in the first game.

lets take it to the live blog, at least if its a comment directly about whats happening

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/blog/Ricky_Dimon/20100131/Li ve_blog_of_the_Australian_Open_final:_Federer_vs._Murray

WOW!!!! C'MON FED!!!! Go BABY! GO!!!! :)

Roger serving at over 65% first serve fedexfan!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

alas alas, Fed at the top of his game and Andy not near his. Andy's serve is awful too. Please Andy at least get a set!
If this were anyone else I'd be loving Fed's game!!!

J U S T B E A U T I F U L!!!!!! The "MASTER: DOES IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!! woohoo!!!! #16 DOWN UNDER fedexman!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

16th grand slam for the fed express. Murray didnt even win a set:) guess fed was serious when he sed he wud torture murray in the final.

deuce,

fabulous match. superb match. but deuce, andy kept it close.
You should be proud of you man. seriously. it was close. at times. and that tie break. well, talk about nerves. so not to be for andy this time deuce, but head up! 3 more slams to go! and andy was there, just not good enough for today. watch him in the masters though! all the best deuce.

AO10...where we have lifted one more down under !!!!!
C'MON !!!

Man o man ....its blady amazing .
Straight SETS !!!!!!
FedExpress is a AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

STRAIGHT SETS !!!
He schooled murray ....im so blady happy .

SWEET 16 .....and the 1st GS win as a father.

C'MON !!

FEDERITES UNITE !!!

The match was great ....sorry about the above post ...i lost my head a bit :P
(understandably)

Fed played an awesome match . Murray played WAAYYYY better than USO and I think he deserves credit for the effort . However , Fed superiority in shot making and experienced pulled him through in straight ...though tight sets ...
Kudos to Muza for making it this far ...i expect that he will be in the finals of at least Wimby or USO ....whether against Fed or not ...we dont know ....but I hope so .

C'MON !!
Federites Unite !!

My heartiest congratulations to all sturdy fed fans.......

Fed needs our support n backing...... be loyal our gracious champ....

Congo to Roger for adding another slam to his resume n feather tom his cap......:)

Luv you all...... :)

Aleeeeeerrrrrrrrrr Roger................ Jai Ho !!!!

WooooHOOOOO.... FED WON!!!!!

HE PROVED ME WRONG TIME AND TIME AGAIN!!!

That was not easy. ANdy M will definitely win a GS most probably in WImby this year I am sure of it. But today Fed shows why he's the greatest!!!

FED"S THE BEST!!!! NO DOUBT ABT IT!!!

STIFFER COMPETITION?
NEWBORN DISTRACTIONS?
OLD AGE?

No PROBLEM!!!

And this Final Match is enough for one to pick a winner when it comes to Grand Slam Tennis .All other players will do their best and win a few Masters and other tournaments and will hope for carrying on the "good" form to the Slams. But, after a Grand Slam tournament, there will be only ONE winner.

And well said, matches are won or lost on Federers racquet! Generally most critics of the genius will not want to agree, but the thing is, there is only ONE true champion in any Grand Slam Tournament. And only when he falters and makes too many mistakes or chokes, then the mortal souls, the less players collects a few of those slams. This is what comes out in the forefront after the last 20 or Grand Slam tournaments.

Come on Federer, it's time for you to get all 4 Slams and only you can do it. Best of luck to you for 2010!

typo..."you can't counter attack with attack"

Oh dear. Oh dear.

Have to say I am not surprised, but so disappointed muzz didn't at least take a set.

How loooooooong? ::::(((((((((((((

Well, Roger was just too good today. He fully deserves No. 16 and I doff my sombrero to him. As it turns out, this match was indeed won on his racquet - a great example of "clutch" tennis. There wasn't some big psychological turning point that I could see. He just did what he so often does - blew way too hot to handle, getting so far ahead that realistically he was never going to be caught.

Nice speeches from both, too!

Come on Federer, it's time for you to get all 4 Slams and only you can do it. Best of luck to you for 2010!
solitudine

solitudine I have the SAME DREAM MAN!!!! I was talking about it to some of my co-workers after the game today... WOW!!!! If dreams will come true...!. C'MON! Go FED Go! Do it for the TWINS Rog! :) Do it for the TWINS!