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Welcome to our coverage of the Australian Open Men’s Final between top seed Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Our in-match coverage will update after every incident of note and we’ll have regular analysis throughout the game. The most recent postings will appear at the top of the page.
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11.24: Having essentially been in cruise control for the first two and a half sets we finally got to see the best of Roger Federer in the third. Once he was put under pressure the world number 1 brought his A game and showed why he is so dominant. Murray will know he put himself in a big hole early and that proved too much in the end.

3rd Set, Tie-break First blood to Murray in a game he has to win, he holds serve to go 1-0 up and breaks Federer to take a 2-0 advantage. Federer holds his next serve so it’s back to Murray who holds the first of his two to go 3-1 up with the mini-break. The advantage is lost on the next point as Federer pulls it back to 3-2 and with serve. Federer is back on level terms at 3-3 as the players take on some fluids before resuming.

Murray gives Federer a cheap point with a sloppy shot and the top seed leads 4-3. The Scot levels it on his own serve before hitting an ace to go ahead 5-4. Murray gets the mini-break on Federer’s serve to take a 6-4 lead and two set points, his first set points of the match. Federer holds his next serve to make it 6-5. Murray serving on set point. He hits a great first serve, appears in full control of the point but chokes and slams it into the net to save Federer and bring it back to 6-6.

The momentum is with the top seed, as so often it is, as Murray serves. Federer hits it long to give Murray another set point but this time Federer is serving, down 7-6. Murray once again appears in control but Federer does enough to stay alive before Murray hits it wide and it’s 7-7. An ace from Federer gives him his first championship point at 8-7. Murray serving to stay alive. Federer hits a passing shot which just goes wide to bring Murray back to 8-8. The Scot serves again and Federer under-cooks a backhand into the net to give Murray his fourth set point at 9-8. Federer controls the point from the net to make it 9-9 at the third change of ends.

Federer serving and an exquisite shot at the net leaves Murray scrambling. It’s 10-9 to Federer, championship point again. Murray once again stares into the abyss. Horrible first serve into the net. Murray hits a desperation shot to stay alive again at 10-10. Murray steps up again, once again first serve finds the net, once again it doesn’t matter. This time Federer looks in control but this time he slams it into the net with the court at his mercy. 11-10 to Murray but Federer levels immediately. The top seed wastes no time moving to championship point for the third time at 12-11.

Murray hits the net on first serve again. This time on second serve Federer takes control, Murray hits a backhand into the net and that’s all she wrote. Federer takes the tie break 13-11.
Roger Federer wins the 2010 Australian Open 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11), his fourth title down under and his 16th singles grand slam in all.

3rd Set, 12th game: Federer needs to hold to force a tie-break. It’s hard to see who would have the advantage in that scenario, although mentally it would surely be the Swiss. It’s nothing short of devastating from Federer on serve as he wins it to love. It’s 6-6.

3rd Set, 11th game: Murray looks far more composed in this service game than last time out. He quickly goes up 40-15 but an unforced error makes it 40-30. Federer brings it to deuce twice but it’s not enough and Murray holds to lead 6-5.

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3rd Set, 10th game: The Swiss is serving to bring it into extra games in this set. Some wasteful play from Murray puts Federer 40-15 up. The top seed under-cooks a shot into the net but makes amends next time out to tie up the set 5-5.

3rd Set, 9th game: Federer is making Murray work for it early in the game going 30-15 up. Murray pulls it back to 30-30. Federer gets to break point but Murray hits a powerful first serve which the Swiss returns long to bring it to deuce. Another break point for Federer which he converts to break back. Murray leads 5-4 but Federer is serving and the crowd is a lot quieter now.

3rd Set, 8th game: Federer wins his service game to love but Murray is serving for the set. It’s 5-3 to Murray.

3rd Set, 7th game: Even the first point in a game gets the crowd fired up now. The Saltires are flying but there’s still a steep hill to climb for the Scot. Murray goes 40-0 up quickly, Federer pulls a point back but Murray closes out to win the game and go up 5-2.

3rd Set, 6th game: The Scot goes three break points up to finally wake up the crowd. Federer saves the first and the second but not the third. Murray breaks and is fired up with a 4-2 lead.

3rd Set, 5th game: Murray holds serve again to go 3-2 up, really not been much to talk about these past three games.

3rd Set, 4th game: Federer holds serve again, neither player looks like taking charge of this set yet. It’s 2-2.

3rd Set, 3rd game: Another easy one for Murray to go 2-1 up.

3rd Set, 2nd game: A bit more spring in Murray’s step in this game, once again gets to 30-30 with Federer. He then forces deuce and then gets a break point but loses a long rally to miss the opportunity. Murray is visibly frustrated by the error, Federer is as cool as ever and quickly takes the advantage before closing out the game to make it 1-1.

Federer hasn’t needed to change it up a gear yet today and there’s not much reason to think that even a more energised Murray is going to put him under that much pressure.

3rd Set, 1st game: Murray has a rare easy service game to go a game up, 1-0 to the Scot.

2nd Set, 10th game: The top seed quickly gets three set points. Murray saves one but can’t stop the Swiss. Federer takes the set.
Federer wins the second set 6-4, leads by 2 sets to 0.

2nd Set, 9th game: Murray holds his serve but he needs to break Federer next time up to avoid going two sets behind. Federer leads 5-4.

2nd Set, 8th game: It’s all to easy for Federer when he’s serving, he takes this game to love to go within one of a two set lead. Federer leads 5-2.

2nd Set, 7th game: Federer races to go three break points up. Murry pulls all three back however to bring it to deuce. Federer goes another break point up but Murray is saved as a big miss by Federer makes it deuce again. Another miss, this time on a passing shot, gives Murray the advantage. Murray converts to take the game but still trails 4-3.

2nd Set, 6th game: Murray once again is competitive on a Federer service game, getting to deuce twice. Murray needs to force an opportunity but Federer is in no mood to let him and takes the game. It’s 4-2 to the top seed.

2nd Set, 5th game: Federer takes the first two points on Murray’s serve, giving the Scot no room to rest. Murray hits back but a double-fault gives Federer two points to go a double break up. An ace reduces it to one. Two more quick points get it to deuce and then give Murray the advantage. The Scot holds serve but still trails 3-2.

This one could be over in a hurry if the Scot doesn’t strike back soon. Federer is not one to ease up when he has a lead, Murray needs to chase down the top seed.

2nd Set, 4th game: Murray makes the game competitive, reaching 30-30. It doesn’t phases the World number one who closes out to move into a 3-1 lead.

2nd Set, 3rd game: Murray drops the first two points on serve to put himself under pressure. Federer piles it on as he goes three break points up. He breaks on the next point, going 2-1 and a break up.

2nd Set, 2nd game: Federer put under a little pressure by Murray but he wraps it up easily enough, 1-1.

2nd Set, 1st game: A change of shirt for Murray, going from blue to white. He takes the game quickly. 1-0 to the Scot.

1st Set, 9th game: Federer is serving for the set. He quickly grabs two set points. He converts straight away to take it.
Federer takes the set 6-3, leads by 1 set to 0.

1st Set, 8th game: Federer picks up the first two points to put some pressure on the Scot. Murray levels it up at 30-30. The top seed comes back again with a back-hand to get to break point. He takes control from a weak second serve by Murray and wins the game. Federer leads 5-3.

1st Set, 7th game: Federer in control to re-take the lead, 4-3.

1st Set, 6th game: Murray makes his third challenge of the day while leading 40-15, he gets it and tthe point is replayed. Murray takes it on the next point and it’s 3-3.

1st Set, 5th game: The advantage of serve seems largely irrelevant in this set as Murray goes two break points up again. Federer pulls it back to deuce. Murray gains another break point but once again Federer forces deuce. Two aces in a row seal the game for Federer. 3-2 to the World number 1.

1st Set, 4th game: Federer once again puts Murray under pressure going, seemingly going two break points up but Murray challenges on Hawkeye and it’s cancelled out so back to 30-30. Murray takes the next two points and the game. It’s 2-2.

1st Set, 3rd game: Murray gets two break points with a passing shot. He takes it on the next point. Back with serve, 2-1 to Federer.

Crucial break for Murray. Tsonga fell apart quickly on Friday after giving up an early break to Federer.

1st Set, 2nd game: Murray goes three break points down quickly. Murray pulls one back but next time out Federer punishes the Scot. 2-0 to the World number 1.

08.44: Our apologies for being late. The good news is you haven’t missed much as the first game went with serve to Federer.

Filed under: Liveblog by Emmet Ryan