TENNIS in DEPTH.

Roger Federer took a commanding 2-0 lead in Group A with  resounding victory over local boy Andy Murray, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. After a warm-up match against Verdasco on Sunday, and a poorly played first set against Murray, Federer turned up the heat to take his game to another level and left Murray wondering what had hit him. Federer’s next match is with the man who beat him for the US Open title, and I’m sure he is looking forward to a rematch with Mr. Del Potro.

If Roger can continue to play at today’s level there is no one in the tournament who has the game to defeat him. It was a pleasure to watch the ‘best player ever’ on a day when he displayed why he has earned the title. He will probably meet Murray again before the tournament is over, and it will be interesting to see whether Murray’s team can figure out a way to beat Roger. There were eight Murray team members sitting in his box compared to just Mrs. Federer sitting in Roger’s box!

Federer clinched the 2009 ATP World Tour Champion title by beating Andy Murray at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals tonight. Federer and rival Rafael Nadal, the 2008 ATP World Tour Champion, had entered the prestigious circuit finale at The O2 in London locked in a two-man battle to conclude the season atop the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings. Nadal lost his first match putting Federer in a position to gain the number one position if he won just one match, which he did.

“It means a lot to have returned to No. 1 and to finish the year again at No. 1,” said Federer. “It was an incredible year for me both on the court and off the court and to be able to break the all-time Grand Slam record and finish the year on top is amazing.”

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