World Tennis Championship, Abu Dhabi:
Semi-final:
A Murray (GB) v * R Federer (Swi)
4-6 0-0
* denotes server
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606: DEBATE
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By Piers Newbery
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SECOND SET:
1148: According to the BBC weather website, it's 26 degrees in Abu Dhabi today. Which is nice for them.
FIRST SET:
Murray 4-6 Federer
Murray is in cruise control at 40-0 but lets his concentration slip. Federer gets back to deuce and then hits a thumping forehand winner for set point. A double fault from Murray brings a good set to a very disappointing end.
Murray 4-5 Federer
This time it's Murray who closes on the crucial break at 30-30 and he puts up a towering backhand lob that Federer does well to put away. The Swiss holds.
Murray 4-4 Federer
Murray is struggling to find his first serve at the moment and Federer is threatening at 30-30 after punching away a forehand from the net. Murray gets out of trouble with a decent serve and a Hawkeye challenge that goes his way.
Murray 3-4 Federer
Federer holds to love this time and watching girlfriend Mirka looks in serene mood behind her sunglasses. Or she may be asleep.
1135: "Welcome back guys. Here's to 2009. C'mon Andy."
From Derek Kirkcaldy via text on 81111
Murray 3-3 Federer
Murray gets back on level terms despite allowing Federer to recover from 40-0 to 40-30 down. A big serve sees off the danger.
Murray 2-3 Federer
Murray gets to deuce by hooking a forehand cross-court past the incoming Federer. The British number one was so far behind the baseline he was endangering the ball boys but it worked. It's a similar story on break point and this time Federer sticks an awkward half-volley into the net. We're back on serve.
Murray 1-3 Federer
Murray gets off the mark with a love game that sees Federer dump a very makeable volley in the net. Should Murray lose this match, the good news is that it won't go on their head-to-head record as it's an exhibition tournament. The bad news is he's out of the running for $250k.
Murray 0-3 Federer
Good stuff this - Murray earns a break-back point by forcing a volley error from Federer but the Swiss controls the next rally and swats away a big forehand for deuce. Murray challenges again but is way off the mark, before Federer plays a forehand dummy drop shot - if you can picture that. The world number two eventually takes a tight game with a serve-volley.
1119: "Happy New Year. Lovely to have tennis back. Looking forward to another great Murray year as he settles into the 'big four.' Aussie or US Open this year. C'mon Andy!"
From Phil Baker St via text on 81111
Murray 0-2 Federer
Murray is pegged back to 30-30 when he spoons a forehand over the baseline. The Scot then challenges a line call unsuccessfully and Federer converts his first break point.
Murray 0-1 Federer
A very smooth start for Federer who holds serve to love in about 30 seconds. Apparently Murray put four kilos of muscle on over the winter break. I put more than that on over the last week.
1110: Murray was in fantastic form on Thursday, dropping just four games as he thrashed James Blake. Federer will have been worried if he saw the Scot in action, although the Swiss had a bye so he might have had better things to do with his day off.
1105: The players are out in a sunlit but windy arena, all smiles at the moment.
1100: "I am a fed appreciator but have to say murray will pip him in the shorter form of the game most times and give fed a tough time even in the longer form."
From coolpixel on 606
1055: Murray has a 4-2 lead over Federer in career meetings, which is a pretty impressive stat in itself, and the Scot won three of their four matches in 2008. Unfortunately for Murray, the one he lost was the US Open final.
1050: Morning all, and welcome to a New Year treat as British number one Andy Murray gets set to take on world number two Roger Federer in Abu Dhabi at the World Tennis Championship.
To be honest, that title is a little misleading as it's only an exhibition event, with the ATP season proper kicking off next Monday. However, the fine weather, shiny new Zayed Sports City and winner-takes-all prize of US$250,000 has attracted a top-class field. Federer and Rafael Nadal had byes into the last four, while Murray thrashed James Blake on Thursday and Nikolay Davydenko saw off Andy Roddick.
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