Murray outclassed by fantastic Federer

Andy Murray will need to beat Fernando Verdasco on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after going down 3-6 6-3 6-1 to Roger Federer in tonight’s blockbuster Group A clash at London’s O2 Arena.

The British number one played superbly to take the first set but Federer was in terrific form and Murray simply had no answer in the second half of the match. Victory means Federer is certain to finish the year as world number one.

Federer and Murray had met three times this year, with the Scot triumphing twice, while he also beat the Swiss star in the round-robin stages of this tournament last year.

That defeat meant Federer, who won the end-of-season event four times from five successive finals between 2003 and 2007, failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

But from the first point tonight – a superb rally that ended with a Murray mis-hit – the world number one seemed determined to avoid a repeat.

Two break points followed, of which Federer took the second when Murray netted, but, with a packed crowd in great voice, the home favourite promptly broke straight back.

The noise level was a big step up from anything heard at the O2 so far in the tournament and they were seeing tennis to match the atmosphere.

Murray was taken to deuce in the fifth game but kept his nerve, and three points later he found himself at 0-40 on the Federer serve, taking the second opportunity.

The 28-year-old does not like playing Murray, with his beguiling mix of pace, spins and slices, but he had two chances to break back straight away only for the fourth seed to pull out two big serves before polishing off the game with a Pete Sampras-style ’slam-dunk’ smash.

The 22-year-old then clinched the set two games later, despite a wobble that saw him pulled back from 40-0 to deuce.

Despite winning the first set, Murray had been under pressure in almost every service game and that pattern continued in the second, with the Scot saving a break point in a lengthy second game.

It seemed inevitable Federer would eventually break through and so it proved in the sixth game, the world number one stringing together a series of sublime points.

Murray had an opening in the next game but it was swiftly snuffed out, one stunning half-volley from Federer drawing gasps from the crowd.

Despite the best efforts of his opponent, the 28-year-old duly served out the set to level an enthralling match.

The decider promised to be a thriller but Murray’s hopes of booking that last-four spot – which became possible today following Juan Martin del Potro’s victory over Fernando Verdasco – took a blow when he slipped to 0-40 in the third game.

And this time there was to be no escape, Federer chipping and charging on his third opportunity to force the error from Murray.

When the Wimbledon champion is striking the ball as cleanly as he was tonight, there is almost no-one that can live with him, and the pressure Murray was clearly feeling on his serve manifested itself in a seventh double fault as Federer moved to within a point of a double break.

He took it thanks to a Murray volley that flew long and at 4-1 there was no way back for the 22-year-old.

With the backing of the majority of his home crowd, Murray battled hard in an attempt to at least force Federer to serve it out, but the man from Basle was not to be denied and he clinched victory on his third match point.

Federer said: “Playing against Andy is special for all of us here. I thought I played a great match, him as well.”