ANDY Murray's hopes of a second Wimbledon singles triumph crumbled amid a serve-and-volley masterclass from Roger Federer.
The World No 3, watched by venerable Scots such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Sean Connery, was unable to recreate his 2013 heroics at this venue, coming up short against an opponent who produced virtually fault-free tennis all day long and stepped up the pressure on the Murray serve at the crucial moments. The Scot's day was done in just more than two hours by a 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 scoreline and will be no more than an interested spectator when Federer and Novak Djokovic contest a repeat of last year's final. That will be the 33-year-old Swiss legend's 10th Wimbledon final, and a chance to land a record 18th Grand Slam title.
"He served fantastic, apart from the first game, where I had a chance there," said Murray. "I obviously got broken right at the end of all the sets, but I didn't actually play a bad match. Whether I could have done more returning-wise I don't know. He served it extremely well, close to the lines. That is definitely the best he has served against me."
Things might have been different for the Scot had he been able to capitalise on a break point in the very first game of the match. As it turned out, it was the only one he managed throughout the whole match.
A magnificent backhand Murray pass up the line set the tone for a storming start from the Scot, but typically the break point was saved by a Federer service winner and before long we were into a tight first set in which chances against the serve were virtually non-existent. The Swiss man was getting 85% of his first serves in play during that first set, and made just three unforced errors, stats which got their deserved reward as Murray served to stay in it at 5-6. He capitalised on the second of two break points when his return bounced right at the Scot's feet and he couldn't control his half volley.
There was more of the same in the second set, to the chagrin of the World No 3's fans. Again always playing catch-up in games, Murray was making few inroads on the Federer serve, while holding his own was increasingly becoming a chore. This reached a crescendo in the tenth game of the set, which lasted 15 minutes. Sheer strength of will kept the Scot in it at that stage, saving five set points, with both men having to change their rackets. For once momentum was on Murray's side, but it was surrendered again with a service game to love and in the next match the pressure came too much.
There was an inevitability about the way the third set unfolded, even if you felt it might have been a different match if Murray could have changed the momentum somehow. With the World No 3 serving to stay in the match, a magnificent Federer backhand cross court pass displayed his confidence to the full, and the match was come and gone when one forehand from the Scot flew into the tramlines.
"Andy has been playing very well for the season," said Federer. "I am unbelievably happy. People maybe expected it to go four or five sets, me as well. I've been serving well for the entire tournament, and served very well against one of the best return game players we have seen in the game. I was able to mix it up and keep pushing forwards, stay focused. Novak has been the best player for a few years now, he has made it extremely difficult to win the big tournaments."
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