Roger Federer crashes in 5-set thriller, Andy Murray in Australian Open final

The Scot does not believe he would have been able to beat Federer in a Grand Slam if he had not been crowned champion at last year's US Open.

Andy Murray became the first Briton to reach three Australian Open finals after ending his Grand Slam hoodoo against Roger Federer in a five-set thriller.

Murray had never beaten the Swiss at a major but was a deserved 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-2 winner on Friday as he moved into Sunday's title decider against Novak Djokovic.

The Scot missed the chance to serve out the match in the fourth set at 6-5, but responded superbly in the decider to set up a rematch with Djokovic, who he beat to win the US Open in September.

"It's always tough against Roger," Murray said. "I think the slams are where he plays his best tennis.

"When his back was against the wall at 6-5 he played some unbelievable tennis. He missed some shots at the start of the fifth and I just stuck in there."

As for the meeting with Djokovic, who thrashed David Ferrer in Thursday's semi, he added: "I didn't see much of his game although I heard about it. I heard he played very well. "I will have to play my best tennis to win it."

In a match of fine margins, it was the Murray serve which proved key, in particular his much-maligned second serve.

Too often in big matches it has been his Achilles heel but tonight it was the difference. He won 63 per cent of points on his second delivery, compared to just 42 per cent for the Swiss.

It meant Federer was under pressure throughout and it finally told in the decider as Murray moved into his sixth Grand Slam final.
The fourth set was full of drama.

Murray blinked first as Federer claimed his first break of the match for a 3-1 lead, only for the Scot to get it back three games later.

And when Murray broke again for 6-5 it seemed the game was up for the 31-year-old Federer with his opponent serving for the match.

No-one had told Federer, however. He moved to 30-40 thanks to a brilliant backhand winner and then broke back for 6-6 when Murray inexplicably missed a simple forehand with the open court gaping.

And as in the second set breaker Federer held sway, two mini-breaks handing him a 5-2 lead and he powered over the line as Murray faltered.

Murray required a swift start to the decider and he got just that, racing out to a 3-0 lead in 12 minutes as Federer started to wilt, perhaps as a result of his five-set encounter with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 48 hours ago.

The 17-time major winner kept going but he was unable to make any headway as Murray broke once more to secure a dramatic win in exactly four hours.

Murray does not believe he would have been able to beat Federer in a Grand Slam if he had not been crowned champion at last year's US Open.

He said: "When you lose the fourth set having served for it, maybe 18 months ago I wouldn't have come back from that so I think mentally I've probably become stronger because of the results at the end of last year.

"I don't think loads has changed in my game, I just think understanding what I need to do in the important moments."

And the Scot hopes his victory over Djokovic on the way to his maiden Grand Slam title will help him replicate that success in Melbourne.

"It was close to five hours that match," Murray said. "I had a four-hour match against (Tomas) Berdych in the semi-finals at the US Open but it's slightly different here because the conditions were nice so it was a more physical match more than mental.

"I'm sure if I get myself into the position to win I'm sure it will maybe be easier to win than the US open or Wimbledon last year.

"But to get into that position I am going to have to play an unbelievable match and recover well as this was a long, long match.

"Every time we play each other it is normally a very physical match. He (Djokovic) is an unbelievably good mover and has so many long rallies so I will have to be ready for the pain.

"I hope it's a painful match as that will mean it's a good one."