ATP World Tour Finals preview: Andy Murray and Roger Federer set for another 2010 encounter
Andy Murray will need to be at the top of his game to overcome an improving Roger Federer when the pair meet at the ATP World Tour Finals on Tuesday 23 November.
Stakes are high ahead of the encounter, as both players won their opening matches in the tournament on Sunday 21 November.
Federer overcame Spain's David Ferrer 6–1 6–4, while Murray also triumphed in two sets against Robin Soderling of Sweden, winning 6–2 6–4.
The winner of Tuesday's match will take a firm grip on the standings in Group B ahead of the final round of the group stage, when Murray faces Ferrer and Federer will face his US Open nemesis Soderling.
Murray with the statistical upper hand
Murray, ranked fifth on the ATP Singles Rankings, has won eight of the pair's 13 encounters.
The Scot defeated Federer in their last two meetings at the finals of the Toronto Masters and the Shanghai Open.
But it was Federer who won this year's most important fixture between the two, as he claimed the Australian Open title in three straight sets against the Scot.
After that victory, Federer has failed to retain his impressive form of recent years this season, relinquishing the top-ranking to Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard's triumph at the US Open in September.
On 7 November, Federer's form showed signs of improving as the Swiss claimed the Swiss Open title two weeks after he winning the Stockholm Open.
Murray must adapt his game
Faced with Federer's apparent return to form, Murray said he will have to play assertively to stand a chance against the 29-year-old.
"I'll have a different game plan for all the matches," Murray told reporters. "When I played Roger and Rafa [Nadal] the last few times, I played very aggressive tennis. That's what you need to do against
them. Against some guys you need to defend more. I think I've improved that side of my game. I've worked on serve-volleying in some matches the last few weeks. I think I've attacked a lot better towards the end of this year than I was at the beginning."
Set at London's O2 Arena, this year's tournament sees Murray make a third consecutive appearance at the end-of-season event. Two years ago, the then 21-year-old overcame Federer before the Swiss defeated
Murray last year.
Despite his two final defeats to Murray this year, Federer said his victory in Australia gave his season the edge over that of his opponent.
"We've kind of peaked at similar times this year," said the Swiss, who will finish the season as the world number two regardless of the outcome at the ATP Finals. "We both played well at the Australian,
then we played well in Toronto. We both played well in Shanghai. Here, it seems like we're both playing well again, so it's somewhat similar I guess. I guess overall I've been a bit more consistent than he has, otherwise I wouldn't be in front in the rankings.
He's had a great season and it's going to be a great match."
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