Federer beats Murray to set up Djokovic final
Updated: 2012-11-12 11:21
(Agencies)
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LONDON - Roger Federer provided an emphatic reminder that he will be chasing more major titles next year with a vintage display to outclass Britain's Andy Murray on Sunday and set up a season-ending blockbuster with Novak Djokovic. Photo Slideshow
The Swiss 17-times Grand Slam champion, who will turn 32 next year, continued his dominance of the ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-6 6-2 victory over the man who deprived him of Olympic singles gold at Wimbledon.
In his eighth final in 11 years at the ATP's blue-riband tournament, Federer will face world number one Djokovic after the Serb's granite-like defences helped repel the brute force of Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro for a 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory.
Neither semifinal lived up to their pre-match billing although Federer's majestic form after a slow start against Murray had a sellout crowd at the O2 Arena in raptures even if he was playing a home favorite.
Murray, who bounced back to win Olympic gold and then the US Open after the heartache of losing to Federer in this year's Wimbledon final, made a lightning start, breaking in the opening game, but ultimately played second fiddle to the master.
Federer edged an hourlong first set after an exemplary tiebreak and then turned on the style in the second to move one victory away from winning a hat-trick of titles at the Thames-side arena that has been hosting the championships since 2009.
"I love playing Novak," Federer said, looking ahead to Monday's final. "I think for both of us, it's pretty straightforward. I think we've got to press out the last juice that's left in our body and make it a successful year end."
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