Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray in straight sets, 6-4 7-6, and with straightforward command to reach the final of the ATP 1000 Masters Series event in Cincinnati last night.
The difference was that Federer sustained a very high level throughout and never dropped his serve. Murray was a little sluggish early on and improved but was never able to threaten the Swiss, who is enjoying an Indian summer to his extraordinary career.
Murray should not be downcast. He has had a tough couple of weeks and had to fight his way through tiredness. He was a little jaded but is sure to be fresh come the US Open in a week’s time.
In the final, Federer will take on Novak Djokovic, the No 1 seed, who had to overcome some exotic brilliance, poor form and a worrying injury to defeat Alexandr Dolgopolov. On yesterday’s form, Federer has every chance of beating the world No 1.
Dogopolov is ranked 66 in the world, and had to qualify to take part in the main draw, but he is a gifted player, given to streaks of brilliance. He gave Djokovic every kind of problem for the best part of two sets, but finally faltered as he tends to. Djokovic won 4-6 7-6 6-2.
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With Murray and Federer showing such impressive form, it was a worrying performance by Djokovic. He spluttered his way to victory and suffered an abdominal strain that must be a concern.
Murray was not at his physical peak either, for there were sure signs of fatigue as Federer took the first set with impressive ease. Murray had laboured hard to win his previous two rounds, against Richard Gasquet and Grigor Dimitrov. He had battled hard but his efforts had taken a toll. Federer, in contrast, had reached the semi-finals imperiously, without dropping a set or a service game.
There was just one break in that first set, courtesy of a bad error when Murray dumped a straightforward forehand into the net. But Federer threatened the Murray delivery with regularity while having little threat to deal with on his own.
Federer has made a habit of beating Murray by taking the ball early and playing an ultra-offensive game. Credit here should go to Stefan Edberg, his coach, who has persuaded him to give full expression to his attacking instincts. When Feliciano Lopez was brushed aside in the quarter-finals, he could hardly believe just how dynamic Federer had been. For others, including Murray, that form was ominous.
The last time Murray and Federer met competitively was in the Wimbledon semi-finals, when Federer’s best was too good for Murray. Federer won in straight sets, and Murray held up his hands like so many before him, to acknowledge that when Federer plays like that there is nothing to be done but applaud.
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Murray had been clearly inferior in the first set, but he gradually elevated his game to parity and by was playing just as well as Federer by the end of the second set. There had been one moment of danger, when Federer held a break point at 3-3, but Murray brought out three big serves to snuff it out.
That was encouraging for the Scot, who had also served particularly well at critical times during his three-set victory against Djokovic in the final in Montreal a week ago.
The second set had been close and so was the tiebreak.
But the conclusion was set up by a stroke of genius. At six-points all, Federer toyed with Murray with a drop shot followed by a lob followed by another drop shot. That gave him his second match point, on serve. He then won the tie-break, eight points to six.