Cincinnati Masters: Federer stunned by Murray

CINCINNATI: Andy Murray shocked Roger Federer 7-5 6-4 in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters Series on Wednesday, ending the Swiss superstar’s run of consecutive finals at 17.

The impeccable Federer, winner of his last 55 North American hardcourt events dating to a first-round loss to Dominik Hrbaty here two years ago, lost his serve seven times, a personal low point in a three-set match. Scotland’s Murray held his nerve to serve out the stunning triumph on his first opportunity, nailing a backhand down the line to finish it off in just over 90 minutes.

Murray had gone up a break twice in the second set, only to see Federer respond, including in the eighth game to level the set at 4-4. But Murray broke again in the ninth game to give himself the chance to serve it out.

Murray, who will now gain a foothold inside the top 20, held his head in his hands in disbelief. He had come into the contest saying he had no chance against the current king of the game. “I don’t think Roger played his best, but I give myself credit also,” Murray said. “It’s not enough just to play against Roger. You have to remain solid.”

Murray, who won the title in San Jose in February, had reached the final in Washington earlier this month and the semifinals of the Toronto Masters Series last week, his first two tournaments under Brad Gilbert. The Scot lost his own serve five times, but stayed calm under the biggest pressure situation of his career outside of the grounds of the All England Club.

Federer was displeased with his service game, but declined to blame his struggles on fatigue in the wake of his title run in Toronto. “That is what I regret, I couldn’t hit one,” he said. “I’m sorry the match didn’t end the way I wanted. He played pretty well, he was able to close it out when he had to.”

Federer, 25, suffered his first defeat since losing in the final of the French Open to Spain’s Rafael Nadal — the only other man to beat Federer this year. Since then, he had captured titles at Halle, Wimbledon and Toronto. Toronto marked his 17th straight appearance in a final, one shy of the ATP record established by Ivan Lendl in 1981-82. The last time Federer failed to reach a final was at Roland Garros in 2005, when he lost to Nadal in the semifinals.

World No. 2 Nadal advanced with relative ease, posting a 6-4 6-3 victory over Hyung-taik Lee a week after ousting the South Korean by the same score in the second round in Toronto. Nadal next faces Germany’s Tommy Haas, who defeated Gilles Simon of France 6-3 4-6 6-4. Another Frenchman was bundled out as Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus beat Gael Monfils 7-6(8) 2-6 6-1. Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain found some life in his game with an upset of sixth seed James Blake 6-2 6-4.