Murray magic does for Federer

PARIS: Roger Federer lost in the first round of a tournament for the first time in three-and-a-half years when he was beaten by Andy Murray, the 20-year old Briton who was a revelation with his cool attitude and his counter-attack.
The unseeded player’s 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-5 win means that the world’s number one has not yet won a tournament this year, having lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open to Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
He lost the last time he played Murray too, 19 months ago in Cincinnati, when he could claim he was tired from his previous week’s efforts.
This time, there was no such explanation, though Federer is short of match play, and when the match got tight was not able to unleash his customary ability to produce overwhelming tennis.
“It was nothing to do with his game,” insisted Federer.
“It was a tricky game for both of us. One of the big guys had to go out.
“It’s difficult but it could have been worse. It wasn’t a bad match but that’s the only positive I can take from tonight.
“I thought I was missing forehands by two or three meters. That’s awful. You have it lined up and suddenly it’s out which comes as a shock.”
The first set saw both men hold solidly all through, Murray serving more aggressively but more often resorting to containment in the rallies, Federer serving more consistently well. But by the tie-breaker Murray was suddenly more assertive.
It hinged on 3 points. Murray had reached 5-2 with one mini-break and then had two chances - one good, one slight - to break again.
The first he netted an attacking return; the second he just got back but couldn’t make pass.
Federer broke back at once, and held serve, saving a set point at six points all with a fine first serve winner.
When Federer gained his first set point, at 7-6 on Murray’s serve he came up with a typical forehand attack, taken athletically from the backhand side, which surprised Murray.
Most people expected Federer to take charge from then on, but it didn’t happen.
“I don’t know if it was my game style which won the match,” Murray said. “I think it was my mentality. I went on court thinking I could win, as I always have against him, and that was the key.”
Murray next plays Fernando Verdasco, the world number 30 from Spain, whose left-handed skills accounted for Rainer Schuttler, the former world number four from Germany, 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 6-1
Other winners were David Ferrer over Tommy Haas, 6-3, 6-0; Richard Gasquet over Dmitry Tursonov, 6-4, 6-4; and Nikolay Davydenko over Mohammed Gareeb, 6-4, 6-0. -- AFP

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