Federer’s sweet sixteen
Melbourne, Jan. 31: Swiss great Roger Federer won his fourth Australian Open and 16th Grand Slam title to deny Andy Murray’s quest for British tennis history on Sunday. Federer’s remarkable level of consistency continued when he mastered the Scottish fifth seed in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13/11) in two hours 41 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
The world number one clinched victory in a gripping 24-point tie-breaker when Murray frittered five set points and the Swiss claimed it on his third match point. “I’m over the moon winning this title again,” he said. “I played some of the best tennis in my life again over the last two weeks.“It’s very special to win my first Grand Slam as a father.”He praised Murray for putting up such a good fight. “Andy, you played an incredible tournament. You are too good a player not to win a Grand Slam, so don’t worry about it.” The victory came when Murray netted a forehand to climax a draining match. It was the Scot’s second Grand Slam loss to Federer following his defeat to the him in the 2008 US Open final and continued Britain’s frustrating chase for a first male Grand Slam winner since Fred Perry last won 74 years ago. “I had great support back home, I’m sorry I couldn’t do it for you tonight,” Murray said as his voice cracked with emotion and he choked back tears.“I can cry like Roger, it’s just a shame that I can’t play like him,” he joked. “He was a lot better than me tonight. But I’ve loved every minute of it and I hope to sometime come back and win.” It is now 279 Grand Slam tournaments since Perry beat American Donald Budge in the 1936 US Open final. Federer has now won 16 Grand Slams in the span of 27 majors and has lost only six finals in that time.His victory saw him become the fifth man in history to win four Australian Open titles with the last man to do so American Andre Agassi in 2003. “I don’t feel great,” Murray added. A shaky Murray was broken in his opening service with Federer hitting a forehand winner, but the Scot broke back straight away with a forehand on double break point. Federer fought off three break points in the fifth game as Murray got into more of a rhythm, but the Swiss top seed broke again when it counted in the eighth and served out for the set in 43 minutes.Murray came more under attack in the second set as Federer turned up the heat and broke the Scot in the third game when he netted a forehand. Murray fought off break points in his next two service games as Federer dictated more of the play and the world number one cruised to three set points and won it on his second point with a forehand.The young Scot threw down the challenge, breaking Federer in the sixth game but was broken back while serving for the third set. The set went into a dramatic 24-point tie-breaker with Murray having five chances to take the match into a fourth set and stay alive, and Federer having three match points.In the end, the cool Swiss prevailed under incredible tension to take the championship when Murray netted a forehand. — AFP
ROBERT SMITH
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