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Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal advance in Abu Dhabi
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, January 2, 2009

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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Andy Murray continued his dominance over Roger Federer on Friday, beating the 13-time Grand Slam title winner 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6) in the semifinals of the Capitala World Tennis Championship.

The fourth-ranked Murray improved to 5-2 over Federer after having lost to him in the U.S. Open final. Murray will play top-ranked Rafael Nadal for the winner-take-all prize of US$250,000. The Spaniard defeated Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 6-2, 6-3.

Murray was broken in the first game before breaking back in the fifth. A backhand winner from Federer and a double fault in the 10th game saw Murray drop serve and the set.

The second set contained a reversal of fortunes as Murray broke Federer in the first game and rallied strongly from three game points down in the third to take a 3-0 lead. Though Murray lost serve in the sixth game, he broke straight back to level the match.

Federer tried to experiment by serving and volleying but was often beaten as he approached the net.

The swinging nature of the match continued in the third set in front of a packed 5,000-strong crowd as Murray broke in the third and fifth games but conceded serve in the sixth.

Federer saved three match points to draw level at 6-6 in the tiebreaker, but Murray clinched it when the second-ranked Swiss star sent a return long.

"I have realized that I will win some and lose some," Federer said. "As long as I enjoy the game, I don’t mind the losses. But I surely want to win the big games. I am not going to chase titles or records as badly as I was last year."

Murray said he wants to defeat Federer when it counts.

"We had some close matches in the past. He beat me in the U.S. Open last year but hopefully I will beat him at a Grand Slam," Murray said.

Nadal dropped serve in the second game of the first set but never looked back as he reeled off the next six games. Davydenko hung on in the second set but was broken in the sixth game as Nadal closed out the match.

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