Andy Murray Downs Roger Federer to Win Second Title of the Season

Andy Murray was in magical form as he beat Federer 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Shanghai Masters. This was the third time this year that the two have met, all in tournament finals. The last time they met was in the Toronto Masters in which Murray had won.

Only two of the Scot's previous seven wins had been in straight sets and this was the most lopsided match the two have ever played.

Federer was broken in the opening set of the match when leading 40-15. They were engaged in a rally when Federer pushed a forehand wide giving Murray the break.

Murray was then 5-3 up in the first set when Federer was facing a set point. However, Murray broke for the second time while scrambling to hit a running passing shot that Federer could not reach.

Murray's court coverage was impeccable during the final as he showed on numerous occasions.

"I played some of my best tennis," Murray said. "You always have to do that to beat Roger, which I did. I managed to do that most of the week."

In Murray's first two service games of the second set he saved four break points while coming back from 15-40 on both occasions. He saved these break points with a couple of aces and some incredible second serves.

In the fourth game, Murray broke when Federer hit another wayward forehand.

Finally, in the eighth game after a long and exciting rally Federer hit a backhand slice on the line which Murray scrambled to hit back, Federer then missed a volley at the net and was broken for the fourth time in the match to give Murray a deserved victory.

"Andy had an outstanding tournament," Federer said. "I thought Andy played great today. He didn't give me many chances."

Murray ended the final with 20 winners to Federer's 16, while also having 18 unforced errors to Federer's 30. Murray went 4-of-8 in break points, Federer 0-for-6. All in all Murray played the key points a lot better than the Swiss.

The head-to-head now reads at 8-5 in Murray's favor, but Federer has a 3-2 advantage in finals; most notably the 2008 U.S. Open and the 2010 Australian Open finals.

On Monday, Federer will rise to become the second-ranked player overtaking Djokovic. He was trying to win the 64th title of his career, which would have equaled him with Pete Sampras.