SPORTS

Murray thrashes Federer to lift Shanghai title

October 17, 2010

Britain's world number four Andy Murray romped to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Switzerland's Roger Federer to claim the Shanghai Masters title on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Scot was in impeccable form throughout the one-hour-25-minute contest, breaking the third seed's serve four times to dismantle the 16-time grand slam champion and win his second Masters title of the season.

Federer was annoyed that the umpire had over-ruled a call in his favour on a breakpoint in the second set, saying the decision possibly cost him the match.

"It was a classic bad mistake by the linesperson. In the end it's what maybe cost me the match," the Swiss said.

Murray did not lose a set all week. "I have had a great week and played some of my best tennis, which I had to, to beat Roger," he said at the trophy presentation.

The contest was the third meeting in a final between the pair this season with Murray losing at the Australian Open at the start of the year before gaining some revenge at the Toronto Masters in August.

On Sunday, Murray faced down Federer from the start, breaking serve in the first game and defending six break points with fearsome returns.

"Roger had a couple of chances to get back in the first set with a few big serves on some of them. He had one big chance with a forehand that he missed. Apart from that, it was obviously a great, great match for me," Murray said.

"I made few mistakes. As a tournament overall, I'm very happy."

OVERTURNED CALL

Federer appeared to run out of steam in the second set as Murray repeatedly sent the 29-year-old scurrying from side to side with an array of pinpoint cross-court winners.

The Swiss was still smarting about the overturned line call after the match.

"It happens all the time. You hope it doesn't happen in the finals against a great player like Andy on a breakpoint," he said.

Federer, though, said the better player had won, adding: "Andy didn't give me many chances to pull off the really big shots today."

The win signalled a return to form for Murray after a roller-coaster season during which he sacked his coach.

He complained of illness on his arrival in China two weeks ago and was beaten in a listless quarter-final by Ivan Ljubicic at the smog-affected China Open in Beijing.

Murray also secured qualification for the World Tour Finals in London next month when he will pit his rediscovered confidence against top seed Rafa Nadal, number two Novak Djokovic, Federer and number five Robin Soderling.

Source: REUTERS
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