Murray secures final spot

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:11

The Briton was sparked into action after losing the first set and went on to secure a 4-6 6-2 7-6 (8/6) victory.

Murray had looked home and dry at 4-1 in the deciding set and then 6-3 in the tie-break, but was made to battle all the way before Federer struck a forehand long to seal his fate.

An initially sluggish Murray was broken in his first service game and then failed to convert his own break point as the Swiss raced 3-0 ahead.

But Britain’s world number four bounced back to break Federer with a series of punishing shots from the baseline as he began to look comfortable in the Zayed Sports City arena.

However, with both men playing at a subdued pace in what amounts to a pre-season warm-up before the campaign proper begins next week, Federer took the first set 6-4 after Murray double-faulted on set point.

The Scot broke immediately in the second set and then repeated the feat to eventually take it 6-2.

Murray was well on top and took the Federer serve twice to claim a 4-1 lead in the decider.

But he missed an easy volley which would have made it a triple break and Federer hit back spectacularly to force a tie-break.

However, the Scot kept his cool to set up a meeting with either Rafael Nadal or Nikolay Davydenko in Saturday’s final.

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