Murray humbles Federer to set up Djokovic final

SHANGHAI: Dominant Andy Murray outmuscled Roger Federer in the Shanghai Masters yesterday, taking advantage of a service meltdown by the Swiss great to set up a repeat of the US Open final against Novak Djokovic.
The US Open champion, who has never been beaten at the event, won 6-4, 6-4 in a display of controlled aggression, repeating his victory in the Olympic final that came after the searing pain of defeat to Federer at Wimbledon.
The pair swapped breaks at the start of the match but the first set hinged on an incredible fifth game when 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer was broken to love after the normally ice-cool Swiss double-faulted three times in a row.
“He didn’t serve that well for him tonight so I was able to be very aggressive on his second serve,” said British third seed Murray, adding it was always special to beat Federer, rated as one of the all-time greats.
“He maybe slowed down his first serve a little bit so I was able to take a few more chances on the first serve. Obviously that helped. But, yeah, I went for it like I did the last few times I played against him.” After taking the first set Murray, who won the Shanghai Masters in 2010 and 2011, immediately put the world No.1 under the cosh at the start of the second set but the Swiss dug deep to save seven break points and edge ahead.
But Federer, 31, continued to struggle and it was the fifth game of the second set that again proved pivotal, with the 25-year-old Scot sealing a break against the Swiss, who had led 40-0, with a devastating forehand return winner.
Murray faced an agonizing wait of more than half an hour to serve for the match as the magnolia-shaped roof at the Qi Zhong Stadium was closed after it started raining and an army of people dried the court.
The players left the court and had to knock up again on their return but Murray kept his nerve to serve out for victory, sealing the match when Federer netted.
A disappointed Federer admitted his performance had been “a bit up and down” and that Murray had been the better player, defining his performances in Shanghai as “OK.”
“I played all right. I didn’t play great. But I did come here and reach the 300 weeks (at world number one). I guess I have to be happy with that,” he said.
Earlier, in-form Djokovic accelerated his push for the year-end No.1 ranking, dismissing the challenge of fourth seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-4 in a one-sided match.
“I played tactically right,” the 25-year-old said. “I was putting a lot of returns into the court, making a lot of pressure on his serve. On the other hand, I was serving well when I needed to.” Yet to drop a set in Shanghai, the Australian Open champion was ruthless, breaking at the first opportunity and repeating the feat as he threatened to run away with the opening set.
Berdych, 27, bidding to reach the elite ATP World Tour Finals in London, slowed Djokovic’s charge but could not prevent him from sealing the set and a single break was enough for the five-time Grand Slam winner in the second set.
Djokovic, who won last week’s China Open, faded toward the end of a stellar 2011 but looks fresh as he hunts down Federer at the top of the rankings.
The Serbian leads Murray 8-7 in head-to-heads ahead of Sunday’s final. Their last meeting was in the US Open final in New York, which Murray won in five sets to win his first Grand Slam.
Azarenka in final
In Linz, Austria, World No.1 Victoria Azarenka kept on track for a sixth title this season when sweeping aside Irina Begu of Romania 6-2, 6-1 at the Linz WTA tournament yesterday.
The lop-sided semifinal earned the Belarusian her ninth final appearance of 2012.
Standing in the Australian Open winner’s way of yet more silverware in her breakthrough season is Germany’s Julia Goerges, who had a slightly tougher assignment in her semi against Belgian Kirsten Flipkens.
The No. 5 seed struggled badly in the opening set, which she lost 1-6, but got herself back in business to take the next two 6-2, 6-3.
Azarenka is on a roll, having captured the Beijing Open last week and she is now one match away from a 14th career title.
Her 2012 trophy haul began with her first Grand Slam in Australia, with follow up victories in Sydney, Doha and Indian Wells. But the 23-year-old then proceeded to lose three finals since, including at last month’s US Open, where Serena Williams’ late recovery left her in tears, before her 6-3, 6-1 Beijing defeat of world No. 2 Maria Sharapova.
Georges, ranked 19th in the world, in contrast is looking for her first title of the season having been beaten by Azarenka in her only final appearance this campaign in Qatar.