Fed stokes up Murray rivalry

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:15

Federer, the world number two, was forced to come from two sets to love down in his fourth-round match against Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open today to book his place in the last eight, eventually winning 4-6 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 6-4 6-2.

Being pushed to five sets is a rare thing for Federer but when asked after the match how he would compare his fitness to world number one Rafael Nadal and Murray he said: “I’ve played five hours against Rafa on clay and against other players as well. I don’t know how fit Murray is. I’ll take him on any day in a five-setter.”

He added: “He’s younger so he’s probably not so experienced, you know.

“In the end it becomes very mental and I know that this is where my biggest strengths always come into play. That’s why I’m always going to favour myself in a fifth set.”

Murray, who will only meet Federer should both progress to the final, lost to the former world number one in the final of the US Open last year.

Since then he has enjoyed success against him in the ATP Masters Series in Madrid, the Tennis Masters Cup in China, an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi and the Qatar Open in Doha earlier this month, where the British number one retained his title.

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