Andy Murray vs Roger Federer – Britain’s Tennis hopes on young Scot’s shoulders

Can Britain believe and dream that they will have a Grand Slam Tennis Champion on Sunday? Technically they could have two, because junior Laura Robson is in the final of her Australian Open draw. But the spotlight will be on Scot Andy Murray, who Britain can watch in the early hours of Sunday morning, as he goes in search of his first Grand Slam title. Murray is confident in his usual understated and quiet demeanour, whilst his opponent, World Number One Roger Federer has been putting the mental stress on Murray, but telling the press that all the pressure of the final will be on the Scot.

Federer is aware that his young opponent is seeking his first title, whereas the Swiss star has been everywhere and done it all. Federer has an incredible fifteen Grand Slam titles under his belt, having made 22 Grand Slam final appearances. For Murray, this is just his second appearance in a Grand Slam final, and who beat him in his first? Yes, Roger Federer at the US Open in 2008. But the immense difference in experience of title winning, should not overwhelm Murray, because Murray actually has the best of their Head to Head Record, having beaten Federer 6 times, and losing only 4.

Federer is brimming with confidence, which, could be misinterpreted quite easily as arrogance, putting the Head to Head record down to not being at his best in a few of their encounters. He has also been speaking of the wealth of experience he does have, and how that will give him an advantage over Murray in the final. Of course everything will come down to the match, the atmosphere and the players on the day. Both players are deservedly in the final, with both looking in majestic form. The only time Federer has looked really bothered, was in his Quarter Final match against Nikolay Davydenko, when he was crushed in the first set. His class won through though, finding new gears of skills that Davydenko couldn’t cope with.

For Murray, his biggest triumph came against World Number Two Rafael Nadal. Murray had the better of the Spaniard, being up two sets to nil, and then leading 3-0 in the third, at which point Nadal had to retire with an injury, which has been discovered should keep him out of action for a few weeks. It has been 74 years since Britain had a Grand Slam winner in the Men’s Tournament, which according to comedian Federer, was actually 150,000 years. Murray does have a lot of his young shoulders, but he is there to play in these types of matches. As said in an interview, he is on the Tour to play in the biggest matches against the best players, and to do all he can to win.

Murray is looking in great form, possibly the best of his career, and he has only dropped one set, which came in a slow start in his Semi Final match against Marin Cilic. Arguably Federer is the better player, he is World Number One for a reason, and that is because of his immense talent and proven track record. Watching him, he really is that good, and Murray will likely need to be at his best and beyond to take him down in the high pressure arena of the Australian Open Final. Only two other players, Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro have gotten the better of Federer in a Grand Slam final. Murray is the next man to get his chance at the big time.

The Men’s Final Starts at 8.30 am GMT Sunday

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