Federer saved the first break point, and on the second, a 14-stroke rally ended with Murray missing a backhand. TV replays, though, showed one of Federer’s shots should have been called out — and had it been, Murray would have led 3-2.
But there was no call and no reprieve, because Federer stayed steady and held serve.
“That was key,” Federer said. “After that, I began to play freely, the way I usually do.”
In the next game, Murray began clutching at his right knee and looking up at his substantial support group in the stands, a gathering that included his mother, two coaches and two trainers.
Murray, though, said the knee had no bearing on the outcome.
“He made very few mistakes,” Murray said. “The times I played him before, he had given me a few free points.”
Federer closed the second set on a 10-stroke point. First, Federer extended the point with some superb court coverage, and then — shifting from defense to offense in a blink — he ended it with a forehand passing winner.
When Federer broke serve for the seventh time, ending the match, he rolled around with glee on the blue court. Instead of heading into the offseason wondering what went wrong, he can look ahead with optimism.
When the men met at the net, Murray felt compelled to share a thought with Federer.
“I told him that he had, you know, a phenomenal year,” Murray said, “regardless of what anyone said.”
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