The breakdown: Federer vs. Murray, Dubai Final

Federer holds the edge in finals.

 

HEAD TO HEAD: 8-6 for Murray. Somewhat incredibly, the two have not played since the 2010 ATP finals, when Federer destroyed a tired Murray in the round robin. Prior to that in 2010, Murray had taken out Federer in back to back finals to win the Masters titles at Canada and Shanghai.

The primary reasons why they have not played in 15 months is because once Novak Djokovic took over as No. 1 last year, they were consistently on opposite sides of the draw and neither of them had much success against the Serbian or Rafael Nadal. Murray lost to Nadal in three Grand Slam semifinals in 2011.

Murray has never beaten Federer at a major, but his coming out party as big time player was a round of 32 shocker over Federer at 2006 Cincy. He also scored significant wins over the Swiss in the 2008 ATP Finals in the round robin, and at 2009 Indian Wells in the semis. All 14 of their matches have been on hard courts, but three were indoors, at Madrid 2008 (when it was still played in October and Murray came through) and in 2009 and 2010 in London for the ATP finals, both wins for the Swiss. Federer is 3-2 over Murray in finals, including wins at the their first meeting at Bangkok in 2005, and in the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian finals.

2012 FORM: Both have played well, but both suffered emotionally draining Australian Open defeats: Murray in a classic five setter to Djokovic, the best he has ever played in a loss at a major, and Federer to his nemesis, Nadal. Federer stalled at Davis Cup in his singles loss to John Isner and in his doubles defeat with Stan Wawrinka to Isner and Mardy Fish. but quickly picked up the pace again by smoking Juan Martin Del Potro to win Rotterdam. In the Dubai semis, he looked quick and confident on the big points in stopping DelPo again, this time in two tiebreakers. He

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