A COHERENT history of Andy Murray could be written on the basis of his meetings with Roger Federer.

His results against the 17-time grand slam champion and a player almost six years older than the Scot are significant landmarks on Murray's journey in tennis.

The 23rd meeting between the pair in group B of the Barclays ATP World Tour finals at the O2 Arena in London is surrounded by the fog of uncertainty for Murray. He is not quite sure about the precise state of his game after a testing season. He is also subject to the the special circumstances of tonight's match where even a victory would not guarantee his place in the semi-finals.

There is also the lingering whiff of cordite in these clashes. Murray has always played a straight racket to any insinuations that he and Federer are not the best of buddies.

"I always chat to him when I see him. I haven't spent loads of time with him. We never practise together but I have always chatted to him when I have seen him."

After he had defeated Milos Raonic on Tuesday night, Murray said: "We have never had any issues away from the court."

But there has been the odd spark on it, most notably when Federer swore twice at Murray in Melbourne in 2013 as the Swiss player was defeated in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Murray brushed this off but there has always been a distinct feeling that Federer has not been enamoured with the British No.1. A perusal of the history of the matches between the two reveals much about the reasons for Federer's possible antipathy.

It also shows how the 17-grand slam champion has been the perpetrator of Murray's most painful losses. Federer, though, was at the other side of the net when Murray recorded the victory that both banished demons and heralded the historic grand slams at Flushing Meadows and Wimbledon.

Murray and Federer are locked at 11 wins each on the head to head. But the first of Federer's critical observations of Murray came as the Scot built up a 6-2 lead in their first eight exchanges. The older player predicted that his opponent would not last long playing the sort of defensive game that was the Dunblane player's hallmark.

It is significant, though, that Federer won the two finals in these eight collisions, The first was in Bangkok in 2005 and the second was Murray's first grand slam final defeat, the US Open in 2008.

So the genesis of a Federer disaffection can be seen in the early reverses to the young gun but there was also the feeling that Murray and Novak Djokovic never regarded Federer as king of the locker room.

Rafael Nadal, whether by natural inclination or the desire to lead a quiet life, always bowed to Federer off court, particularly when the Spaniard was beating him up on it. Not so, Murray and Djokovic. They have paid due tribute to the King of Tennis but have never been overawed by him.

If the early rise of Murray irritated and frustrated Federer, the eventual blooming of the Scot as a fully-fledged member of the Big Four has seen the Swiss play a crucial role as both tormentor and victim. Federer has beaten Murray in three grand slam finals, the most devastating for the Scot being Wimbledon 2012. Yet four weeks later they returned to Centre Court in the Olympic final and Murray took gold, dismissing his erstwhile nemesis in straight sets.

"The atmosphere was amazing. I have obviously played a lot of matches at Wimbledon but I have never experienced Centre Court being like that," said Murray as he looked ahead to tonight's match where the crowd will be evenly split as the Swiss seem to regard tour finals week as a national holiday and descend on London. The Olympic victory, too, gave Murray a strong sense of what was now possible. If he could defeat Federer, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, on his favourite court, then who could not be beaten, what prize could not be won? Two grand slams - defeating Djokovic in New York and at Wimbledon - quickly followed and so did a fractious semi-final in Melbourne.

The rivalry continues tonight in an arena where Federer has been invincible, at least in matches with Murray. Federer has won their three meetings at the O2 and his form this week has been imperious. He may have personal reasons for craving a fourth victory, but undoubtedly he will be all business tonight.

Federer will want to top the group to avoid meeting Djokovic in the semi-final. He will want, too, to assert authority over Murray as one season closes and another one seeks to open with undue haste.

Murray, in contrast, has played down the forthcoming match, even expectations of him in the tournament, saying: "Having worked so hard to get here, I thought I'd try my best to enjoy this week and not put too much pressure on myself. It was just a nice present at the end of the year to play here."

This relaxed attitude just might not be apparent tonight. Federer has been brilliant at the O2 this year, Murray has been patchy. But this is a match-up that is locked at 11-11 for a reason. This is both a rivalry and a record on the edge.