Hugh MacDonald reports from the O2 Arena in London on Andy Murray's bid to beat Roger Federer and reach the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals.
Set 2: Federer wins 6-1 in 32 minutes to take the match 6-0, 6-1
Federer takes his first service game with Murray disconsolately walking to his water bottle at change of ends. He needs it to contain the diluted equivalent of Popeye's spinach. It does not help. Federer breaks.
At 0-2, Murray is staring into the abyss. He has not lost a set 0-6 since 2010 when he played Gael Monfils in Toronto but he beat the Frenchman that day. A recovery of that sort would make Lazarus merely look like a malingerer after the 17-time grand slam champion takes a 3-0 leads though there is the merest hint of Murray defiance as he wins two points.
That evaporates soon as Federer forces another break, the Murray serve malfunctions and a strong hold takes it to five love. Murray now stands on the brink of his first "double bagel". But with a strong serve wide Murray wins his first game. It has taken him 52 minutes. It is now a set and 1-5 down. The comeback begins here. Or maybe not.
A Murray forehand down the line crashes into the net. Federer has match point after 55 minutes. Guess what? He takes it. It is over. Mercifully. Federer wins 6-0, 6-1 .
Set 1: Federer wins 6-0 in 24 minutes, putting Murray out of semi-final contention
The players enter to uproar. Andy Murray is strongly supported but Roger Federer, with London almost a home ground, is given his normal, astonishing ovation.
He immediately is forced on the back foot by Murray, with the Scot pushing to 0-30, but Federer, who wins a 35-shot rally, recovers to take the first game.
The Swiss quickly makes his strategy clear in Murray's first service game. He is going to attack, particularly on the Murray second serve.
A double fault by the Scot gives Federer a deuce to exploit. A Murray forehand crashes into the net and Federer has a break point that he scorns with a loose forehand on a Murray second serve.
But the Swiss is presented with another chance to break with a Murray backhand hits the net. He takes this one as Murray goes long. It is 2-0 to Federer with 11 minutes gone. Ominous.
An imperious service game to love then pushes Federer three games clear. An aggressive Federer, smashing at the net, gains three break points. He takes the first and then breezes to a hold to love. It is 5-0 after 19 minutes. Murray has won six points. Federer then forces a break point against a failing Murray who hits weakly in the net. The Scot is out. The great Swiss is eyeing a rout.
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