Federer flops in final of Shanghai Masters

Federer (left) had to be content with the runner-up plate in Shanghai (Keystone) — Federer (left) had to be content with the runner-up plate in Shanghai Keystone

Roger Federer of Switzerland was soundly beaten in Sunday’s final of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament by Britain’s Andy Murray 6-3, 6-2.

swissinfo.ch and agencies

Murray broke the Swiss players serve four times while fighting off six break points. He also served six aces, while Federer produced three.

Federer, appeared to run out of steam in the second set as Murray repeatedly sent the 29-year-old scurrying from side to side with a series of pinpoint cross-court winners.

Murray, who didn’t drop a set in the tournament, has now beaten Federer eight times in 13 meetings, including the last two.

The match was the third clash in a final between the pair this season, with Murray losing at the Australian Open at the start of the year before gaining some revenge at the Toronto Masters in August.

Federer, who will rise to become the second-ranked player in the ATP standings as a result of reaching the final, was attempting to win his 64th career title, which would have tied him with Pete Sampras for fourth on the all-time titles list.

Sunday did not prove to be a lucky day for Swiss tennis. In the final of the women's tournament at Linz in Austria, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia defeated Switzerland's Patty Schnyder 6-1, 6-2.