Sports News – General Sport & Sport Extra

Andy Murray of England sent defending champion of tournament, Roger Federer, out of the Masters Cup in a classic encounter in Shanghai, China on Friday. Murray came from a set down to win 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 after Federer, hampered by a back injury, saved seven match points in a gripping final set as reported by AFP

“I would have liked to have won on the first match point but I played a couple of bad shots and he hit some aces and some big forehands. I just had to find a way to come back after that. He was a little bit tired at the end and physically struggling and I had that at the back of my mind,” Murray said. Federer had never failed to reach the Masters Cup semi-finals in seven straight appearances, winning four titles including the last two. The 13-time Grand Slam champion, who was forced out of the Paris Masters with the back strain and then hit by a stomach bug, needed to beat Murray to stay in the tournament after losing to Simon.

“I don’t quit once I step on court. Guess you got to drill me one in the eye, then maybe. But otherwise I don’t quit,” Federer said. Federer had started in imperious form, snapping up the first break point of the match. But Murray was not cowed and he immediately broke back after a searing low pass and when Federer miscalculated a backhand. Murray immediately answered with two breaks in the second but wasted two set points as Federer broke twice to force a tense tie-break. With the scores at 3-3, Murray charged ahead and set up three set points with a rare backhand volley before levelling the match. Federer twice took treatment for his injured back and he noticeably slowed in the third set, using the drop shot whenever possible, and went behind before breaking back with a mighty forehand. As tensions rose in a packed Qi Zhong Stadium, Federer broke again but flailed a smash yards out to bring Murray level 4-4. He saved seven match points in an enthralling 10th game before losing his next serve.

“The body was hurting, you know. Normally a best-of-three match is peanuts. So it was a pity I couldn’t handle it today,” Federer said. The match was a re-run of this year’s US Open final, which Federer won in straight sets. Murray beat the ex-number one in Dubai this year and at last month’s Madrid Masters. The 21-year-old Scot has been in the form of his life, winning back-to-back Masters Series titles to reach a career-high fourth ranking. Murray has only been beaten once since reaching the US Open final when David Nalbandian ended a run of 14 straight victories in the Paris Masters quarter-finals.

Federer, 27, was hoping to kick-start his campaign to win back the number one ranking in Shanghai. He has endured a difficult year, losing the top spot after 237 weeks and also his five-year Wimbledon streak to Rafael Nadal. He was struggling with a back injury and was also hit by a stomach bug before the three-set defeat, which forced him out before the semi-finals for the first time.

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