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Murray/Federer Shanghai
Topic Started: Oct 17 2010, 11:24 AM (103 Views)
JackieForTennis

Shanghai: Murray d. Federer 10/17/2010 - 7:41 AM

105627285 About 10 months ago, around this same time of day (for New Yorkers, very early), Roger Federer hit a drop shot. It wasn't struck out of convenience or necessity, but he decided that it was the best option of the bunch. Federer hoped to caress the ball over the net and have it bounce twice. If it did, he would finish off Andy Murray and win the Australian Open.

A few seconds later, Federer turned his head aghast as he realized his mistake. His nimble opponent had tracked down the ball and sent it up the line for a winner, erasing a championship point. The momentum had swung back in Murray's direction. At that moment—10-all in the third-set tiebreaker—I thought I'd never see Federer try to drop shot Murray again.

Wrong about that one. Federer employed the dropper multiple times today in Shanghai, where he and Murray collided in the Rolex Masters final. The result was often the same—a lost point, due to a Murray get or Federer mishit. But Federer seemed compelled to hit the shot this time around, as if he had no alternative. In some respects, he didn't. Murray outplayed Federer from the baseline, returning shots with interest and controlling the majority of rallies. The Scot's resistance forced Federer to overhit; he ended the match with 30 unforced errors (to just 18 winners). It was like Canada all over again, only better, if you were a Murray fan.

The match, which ended 6-3, 6-2, could have been even more lopsided. Federer nearly fell behind by two breaks twice in the opening set, but was bailed out by his serve. It was the only shot that was as sharp as Murray's. The Greatest Player Never to Win a Slam (he's now won six Masters titles, so I think that's fair) had a good read on Federer's shots, never panicked and, most importantly for him, served well. It was a strong all-around performance from Murray, and probably his best match against Federer.

I'll leave the far-reaching implications of this match—if any—to you.

—Ed McGrogan
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