Federer edges ahead of Murray

Andy Murray’s bid to eliminate Roger Federer from the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai got off to a disappointing start as the defending champion claimed a scintillating first set 6-4.

After recording wins over Andy Roddick and Gilles Simon in the round-robin stage, in-form Murray was already assured of a place in the semi-finals, but Federer knew he had to win following his opening-day defeat by the Frenchman.

The US Open champion pulled out of the Paris Masters with a back injury, which restricted him against Simon, while he was suffering from a stomach upset as he kept his tournament alive after beating Radek Stepanek.

Since his defeat by Federer in the US Open final, Murray has only lost once in his last 17 games including a win over the former world number one on his way to a second Masters Series shield in Madrid in October.

And knowing every point and game would count against the Scot, world number two Federer, 27, unsuccessfully challenged on a first serve at 30-15 but claimed the first game as Murray netted following a deep forehand from the Swiss.

With the crowd knowing defeat would send the four-time Masters Cup champion home, they were certainly behind the Swiss and were delighted as Murray sent a forehand long at 0-40 to hand Federer an early break and a 3-1 lead.

But Murray recovered as he fought back from 30-0 down to convert a second break point as Federer sent a backhand into the net following a long baseline rally.

The see-saw battle continued and it was Murray’s turn to let slip a 30-0 lead, but after blasting his first ace at break point, he held to level at 3-3.

After a hard-fought hold from Federer, Murray battled to stave off two more break points, but, with the set on the line in game 10, he duffed an attempted drop shot to hand Federer the opening set.