Federer to end 2009 as number one, after win over Murray
November 25th, 2009 - 1:26 pm ICT by IANS
London, Nov 25 (DPA) Roger Federer clinched the year-end world number one title a year after losing it to Rafael Nadal, regaining the honour with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 defeat of Andy Murray at the ATP World Tour Finals.
For the second time in as many matches, Switzerland’s 15-time Grand Slam winner had to rally Tuesday after losing an opening set.
The comeback victory in two hours improved his record against the fourth-ranked Scot to 4-6 and marked his second success in a row in that series after winning a Cincinnati semi-final last summer.
Federer now cannot be denied the 2009 top ranking, even if he should surprisingly not win another match this week and number two Nadal were to claim the trophy on Sunday.
Murray slumped to eight double-faults and 31 errors to 30 for Federer.
The Swiss at first looked like running away as he broke in the first game of the evening, only to be hauled back to earth with a Murray break-back a game later which eventually led to the Scot claiming the opening set in 42 minutes, breaking Federer to love in the sixth game.
But the top seed struck back in the second as he settled into a comfort zone to level. A break of the number four for 2-1 in the third and another for 4-1 paved the way to a 2-0 group record for Federer with one last round-robin to play Thursday.
That contest will be a high-voltage re-play of the US Open final, which Federer lost to Juan Del Potro two months ago.
Del Potro struggled with nerves in a fragile win over Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1) in well over two and a half hours.
Del Potro almost threw away a 5-2 lead in the final set against the Spaniard before escaping.
“I have to play better than the US Open if I want to win. But it’s a good chance to advance to semis,” said Del Potro of his date with Federer. “I don’t know what will happen. But the match will be completely different (than in New York).
“I feel a little tired, but I can play more matches, especially against Roger. I need the victory if I want to be in semis, so I will fight like today.”
- Federer-Berdych set-up Madrid Open final - May 13, 2012
- Federer beats Del Potro to capture second title in Rotterdam - Feb 19, 2012
- Nadal to meet Federer in semis - Mar 17, 2012
- Australian Open: Nadal overcomes Berdych, to meet Federer in semis (Roundup) - Jan 24, 2012
- Tipsarevic stuns Djokovic in Madrid Open - May 12, 2012
- Djokovic beats Federer at Indian Wells to take world no.2 ranking - Mar 20, 2011
- Nadal beats Federer, wins sixth French Open crown (Lead) - Jun 06, 2011
- US Open: Somdev takes on Murray, Sania plays Peer - Aug 26, 2011
- Triumphant Nadal blows past Verdasco and closer to final - Sep 10, 2010
- Murray beats Nadal to win Japan Open - Oct 09, 2011
- Federer has a score to settle when he meets Murray in London - Nov 23, 2009
- Nadal advances to US Open semi-finals - Sep 10, 2010
- Del Potro through, as Murray loses percentage game - Nov 27, 2009
- Nadal beats Youzhny to reach first US Open final - Sep 12, 2010
- Australian Open: Djokovic edges out Murray, meets Nadal in final - Jan 28, 2012
Tags: andy murray, atp world tour, comeback victory, comfort zone, double faults, dpa, fernando verdasco, first game, good chance, grand slam winner, high voltage, match, nerves, rafael nadal, roger federer, scot, sixth game, spaniard, two and a half hours, year end