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Murray beaten by master Federer
11:45, Jan 31 2010
Roger Federer inflicted a straight sets defeat on Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday to deny the Scot a maiden grand slam title.
The 28-year-old Swiss won his 16th grand slam title and fourth at Melbourne Park 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13/11) in two hours and 41 minutes under the Rod Laver Arena lights.
Murray was made to pay for an anxious start as he allowed the world number one to coast through the opening two sets before finally providing stubborn resistance in the third. But after grabbing the first break in the third set Murray immediately relinquished his advantage and after an enthralling tie-break, when the Scot wasted five set points, his challenge was ended.
Federer broke Murray in his opening service game but the Scot broke straight back. However, Murray was broken again in the eighth game when Federer hammered a forehand winner before holding serve to clinch the opener.
Federer started to take control of the match and he broke Murray to love in the third game of the second set.
The pressure was showing on the Scot who missed a couple of routine groundstrokes and he was being run around the court as Federer dictated the play with some perfectly angled shots before sewing up the second set.
Murray finally began to show the form that had catapulted him into the final as he took a lead for the first time when he broke Federer in the sixth game of the third set. He converted with his third break-point chance when after twice failing to pass Federer, he angled a forehand across court.
It brought a subdued crowd to life as they sensed a revival in the Scot's challenge as the ripped forehand winner from Murray drew a roar of celebration from him.
Murray's comeback was, however, immediately deflated as he was broken in the next game with a timid volley allowing Federer to take the set to a tie-break.
An enthralling decider, which lasted 18 minutes, saw Murray pass up five set points before Federer won the match with his third championship point when the Scot blasted a backhand into the net.
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