Sunday, January 31, 2010

Day 14 of Australian Open: Federer wins #16.

Message to Andy Murray:  Do not call out anyone anymore if you are going to play like a scared little girl.  Murray "called out" Roger Federer just a few days ago saying he wanted to beat him in the final.  The only person he ended up beating was himself as he fell in straight sets to Federer 6-3, 6-4, 7-6.

From the beginning Murray looked nervous. Thats exactly how he played too.  The moment seemed to be too large for him.  Murray wasn't going for his shots, instead he was more content to sit back at the baseline and play defense.  Federer picking up on this was like a surgeon.  Precisely picking apart and confusing Murray with drop shots.  Federer looked like a cold blooded killer in the first set.  Showing no emotion as he dismantled Murray.  Federer: wins 1st set 6-3.

Federer broke early in the 2nd set to take a comfortable lead.  After falling down a 2nd set break, Murray was finally able to find some of his game, and hit some winners with confidence.  It was a little too late, Federer was able to hold on to the slim lead and take the 2nd set 6-4.

The 3rd set saw a much more aggressive Andy Murray.  Murray began the set by hitting winners and keeping Federer back on his heels, and playing defense.  Murray was able to get an early break in the set.  With the break came some emotion from Murray.  He was "fist-pumping", and waving to the crowd to "get up" and make some more noise.  Finally the Andy Murray many people wanted to see had arrived.  Murray up 5-3 in the set had a chance to serve out the set and make this a more competitive match.  But like the champion he is, Federer broke back and put the match back on serve.  (Here is an odd note:  at 5:55 a.m. Eastern Time in the U.S. the match was tied 5-5 in the 3rd set.)  The set stayed on serve, and went to a tiebreaker.

The tiebreaker was one of the best ones you'll ever see.  Murray had 5 different set points, all negated by the excellent play of Federer.  Roger had 2 championship points turned away by Murray, but was able to claim the title on his 3rd championship point, winning the tiebreaker and match 7-6 (13-11 in the tiebreaker)

Two streaks remain intact with the Federer win.  Federer keeps his streak alive of never losing a match when up 2 sets to love.  And Andy Murray must wait a little longer to break the 74 year drought since the British have claimed a Grand Slam event champion.

Murray's game came on a little too late to make the match interesting.  Federer had the experience and game to take care of business and win his 16th Grand Slam championship.  Maybe this is what Murray needed, and now he has the knowledge to better prepare himself for future grand slam finals.


*** I forgot to mention in previous blogs that Leander Paes and Cara Black won the mixed doubles.  Leander is the man.


News and Notes:
Rafael Nadal and Lleyton Hewitt will both be out for some time with injuries.  Nadal had an MRI taken on his injured knee, and a slight tear was found.  He is expected to be out of action for around 4 weeks.  Hewitt's injury is slightly more serious.  Hewitt had to have minor hip surgery on his right hip.  He said this setback will not force him to retire, but that he expects to be back by the French Open.

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