Wednesday 23 January 2013

Australian Open Day 12: Andy Murray v Roger Federer Semi-Final Prediction

Andy Murray and Roger Federer will lock horns in a mouthwatering second semi-final that will take place on Friday evening in Melbourne Murray won easy over Jeremy Chardy in the quarter-finals, 6-4 6-1 6-2 as he confirmed his place in the final four with 18 straight sets.  Federer lost his first and second set of the tournament in a thrilling five set win with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3.  It was a really encouraging performance by Tsonga, but Federer produced some magic moments in the final set to come through.  Murray leads the head-to-head with Federer by 10 wins to 9; Federer won three of their clashes in 2012 with wins in the Wimbledon final and in their last match at the World Tour Finals.  Murray's two wins in 2012 came in the Olympics final and Shanghai, and both were dominant wins, but he has never beaten Federer at a Grand Slam.

Federer has had a really tough draw with wins over quality players in each round including a straight sets triumph over the in-form player of the 2013 so far, Bernard Tomic in the third round.  Murray, meanwhile has not been tested at all; the highest seeded player he has played was Gilles Simon and that was not even a contest with the Frenchman barely able to move at the end.  I think Murray and Federer's routes through the draw will strongly favour Roger, who has been forced into playing some of his best tennis.  I think the mens game is certainly missing Rafael Nadal at the moment and despite the odd classic match, the tournament has been pretty flat for me.  I am hoping for a really competitive match, but I have a concern that it will be a relatively comfortable win for Federer...

Prediction - Federer to beat Murray in 4 sets

1 comment:

  1. i really do hope federer beats murray tom.

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