Andy Murray v Roger Federer: ATP World Tour Finals – as it happened

So, that’s that: Andy Murray isn’t back yet, Roger Federer is amazing. And if he carries on playing like that, and Novak Djokovic carries on playing like he did last night, when they meet in the final, it is going to be something. Night-night.

We see Murray trudging through the tunnel, head bowed - Mauresmo was ahead of him - and will proceed to the press conference thereafter. Poor lad; someone should treat him with bass.

Oh, I take it back. Murray, it seems has done a runner, and will not be talking us through his evening. He seemed absolutely shattered - basically, he probably ruined his chances here by working so hard to get here.

Roger Federer is so obscenely, disconcertingly content with his lot, a man who can eat an entire month of cream cakes in a second, ever second, and never feel sick.

“Andy’s playing the long game,” says Simon McMahon, “with one eye on Australia already. That, or he’s a huge Neil Diamond fan and wants home in time to see the gravelly voiced, rhinestone jacketed, big haired New York songster on ITV at nine o’clock.”

Or both.

56 minutes, me oh my.

Federer* 6-0, 6-1 Murray Again, Federer comes to the net, this time off a backhand slice, and this time, Murray sends a top-spinning forehand hurtling past, like he does. But Federer retorts with a run-around forehand, spanked down the line, then another sends Murray scurrying to the backhand side, his get setting Federer for a simple smash. Federer then misses an inside forehand - he’s cooling slightly, but really the length of this evening’s rush has been something else. Still, he wins the next point, and when Murray’s forced to reach behind him for a backhand in the corner, he sends the ball wide of the opposite one, and, blessedly, it’s over. Apart from his interview. Federer comforts him at the net, and he does well not to look too miserable, but really, what a performance. What a human being.

Federer 6-0, 5-1 Murray* Gosh, another beautiful drop shot from Federer; what is worse, the embarrassment of the double-bagel, or the mortification of your winning a game being cheered? It doesn’t much look as though Murray will get to choose, a double-fault giving Federer 0-30, before a groundstroke fired at Federer’s chest earns him a point. Federer then gambles, moving to his backhand side to open up his forehand, only for Murray to serve down the middle, where he can’t now reach - an ace. Then Federer goes long with a forehand, a service winner, and Murray has a game.

Federer* 6-0, 5-0 Murray Murray is just struggling to get a read on Federer - he mixes it up so well now - and is on his way to the net when Murray hits one wide. It’s quickly 30-0, but a double-fault - yes, allow that - gives Murray brief respite. The next point goes to Federer, then a perfect serve-volley, and in 90 seconds time, Murray will serve to stay in the not be double-bagelled.

Ah well, here’s a bassline from Andy Barwick.

Federer 6-0, 4-0 Murray* Again, Federer wins the first point on Murray’s serve, then a double-fault gives him another. Murray, I’m afraid, doesn’t appear to be fighting as hard as we’ve come to expect - though, in his defence, this is a demoralising deconstruction, and not one to which he is accustomed. But then he nabs the next to points - can he find the big first serves that can save him from a double-bagel? Well, he gets one in, and it’s enough, giving him control of a rally that he finishes with an overhead. But, what do you know, a long rally, the kind that Murray would expect to win if he’s to compete, but a murderous forehand from Federer changes its complexion, and we’re on deuce. Then another long rally, with some magical oblique angles manufactured by both players, this time won by Murray, before another forehand hit long brings us back to deuce. This time, Murray bangs a forehand into the net, his 19th unforced error and, after a redemptive serve down the middle, again hits one long. Oh dear.

Federer* 6-0, 3-0 Murray Federer sends Murray chasing hither and yon, a forehand top spinner to Murray’s forehand corner allowing him to advance to the net, in order that he might dispatch a volley with ridiculous ease - that makes it 15-all. Murray then scabs another point, but overhits another forehand and loses two more in short order. It is not often you see a talent as wondrous as Murray’s spanked as stingingly as this, but then it is also not often you see an epochal genius like Roger Federer play as well as this.

Federer 6-0, 2-0 Murray* Federer climbs into a second serve that’s short and less than 80mph; duly, it is forehand-pasted cross court. Murray then wins back the point, and takes three goes at closing the next rally, doing so eventually with a gentle smash. But what a response! Federer chops a drop shot that murray can’t get near - how good might he have been if he’d hired Edberg six or seven years ago - and a double-fault brings up break point. Another first serve not made, another second serve bludgeoned and caressed back, another groundstroke that goes long. murray does not seem that mithered - there’s been no shouting, swearing or kicking.

Federer* 6-0, 1-0 Murray Murray can barely inflict a rally at the moment - it’s not nice to see, and at the same time, a thing of intense beauty. Murray then wins a point when Federer goes long, and there’re more sympathetic claps, before he overhits one himself. Let’s have some bassline, courtesy of John McEnerney.

They interview renowned tennis expert, Jose Mourinho. He’s here, you know.

Federer 6-0 Murray* Murray wins the game’s first point, and suffers the ignominy of consolatory cheers. Then, a short second serve, but Federer decides to chip it back and goes long, before Murray looks ready to take control of a rally, opening his shoulders to nail a forehand, but when it comes back, he nets, then nets another, and it’s set point Federer. Another wasted first serve, and Federer is dashing around the court like a bee on Sunny D, smashing a forehand towards the body; Murray nets again, and he’s out of the competition. But Federer, eh, that’s a set nailed in what, 20 minutes, and the first time he’s has bageled Murray. Magnificent stuff.

Federer* 5-0 Murray Another love game - Federer is on a ridiculous buzz, and Murray just can’t cope. He looks sad. it’s incredible, really, how Federer has improved in the last two or three years - what an outrageous man.

Federer 4-0 Murray* Jose Mourinho is in attendance. This is of interest, it seems. In matters more prosaic, Federer again tugs Murray in with a drop shot, then passes him with shaming, shameful ease - Stefan Edberg has done wonders for his net play. Ach, and then a leaping, ran around forehand down the line, dear me - that is probably illegal in some countries. Oh dear - it’s a break to love, and Kei Nishikori’s feet are elevated. Still, here’s Steve, who says “bassline!” - and he’s right. In that big-top tour they did when Kid A came out, there were nearly fatalities.

*Federer 3-0 Murray Already a point up, Federer nonchalantly swipes an excellent return of serve down the line. Then a volley gives him a game point, and Murray goes long with his forehand. Whatever his plan is, it’s not working.

Federer 2-0 Murray* a short second serve from Murray invites Federer to the net - “the worst second serve you’ll ever see on the pro tour, says Peter Fleming” - but what a pass he then produces! Federer, though, wins a nondescript point and then a drop shot brings Murray in, in order to be lobbed - that was delicious. An ace, though, gets it back level, then another, then a double-fault, and on deuce, just when Murray looks to have opened the court with a booming forehand, he nets; break point. But Federer mistimes his attack on a second serve, the ball shooting off the frame and out - but another second serve provokes a sliced chip in return that forces Murray to net, and he goes long with a forehand that cedes the break. A challenge reveals it to be comfortably out.

Incidentally, presiding over this evening’s proceedings is the Mike Dean of umpiring.

Federer* 1-0 Murray Murray leaves Federer a floater at the net, and he duly advances to dispatch - but sends it long. And then, after a further short rally, he nets a forehand - without doing very much, a half-chance for Murray. Next, a long exchange, sliced backhands swapped, before Murray attempts to force the issue, sending a backhand down the line into the net. Federer then levels things, but only just, clipping the line with a volley - Murray challenges, and it’s very close indeed - before two quick points give him the game.

A bassline, courtesy of V. Raveen.

Sports events would be boring if periods before and between play were not consumed by loud popular music. Anyway, play.

Apparently, first serve points will be important. More news as I get it.

Dan Lucas is back, with a bassline.

A bassline, courtesy of Samuel Jewell.

The players are being instructed. To sit down when changing ends, to call “challenge”, and to do promptly. The coin toss is botched, Federer calls heads, wins, serves.

Mr X Factor-Announcer-Imitator is doing his thing. How else might anyone become excited by the elite sport that they are about to enjoy?

Bassline, you say?

Federer praises himself - specifically, his management of his schedule, and, if you thought the blazer and monograms were bad, well, he’s currently wearing a cardigan.

“Tough match, great atmosphere, packed house ... I need to play well,” insights Murray. You can but imagine the banality of the question.

“I’m a Murray fan, but Federer is obscene, almost pornographic”, fantasises Dan Lucas. “He has a style that’s not reminiscent of any other tennis player in my lifetime; instead you have to look at the likes of Michael Laudrup, VVS Laxman or Jeremy Guscott for a sportsman akin to him. It’s the combination of Berbatovesque nonchalance with Viv Richards’ destructiveness. “Federotica” really should be a sporting thing.”

He’s missing the aggression and attitude of Viv - though had a bit more of it before he got good. But yep, Laudrup and Guscott I see, though VVS and Berbatov are a bit slow.

Ok, that’s a bassline, but they’re quite similar really. Send ’em in, please.

It is thought that Murray will have to stay close to the baseline, in order to crowd Federer. Talking of which...

“Two more different tennis players than Murray and Federer it’s hard to imagine”, emails Simon McMahon.” They’re like fire and ice. Of course being Scottish I’m biased, but I prefer Andy. I love him, whereas I just admire Roger. Let’s hope that tonight’s match is a classic of its kind, and not lukewarm water.”

Don’t fire and ice both burn? But yep, I find Murray a far more engaging character too.

Sky have been pitching this as “two modern greats” - so, is Murray a great? On the one hand, two measly slams. On the other, greatness isn’t measured in pots but sentiment and context; I’d say he’s on the cusp. If he can win one more, especially if it involves beating Djokovic, that’d be enough for me.

Murray has not beaten any of the top three since winning Wimbledon.

The commentariat do not think that Murray has great expectations. “He has nothing to lose” seems to be the cliche du jour. Annabel Croft, though, says Murray practised with intensity and aggression this evening, which he’ll have to do tonight.

What more do you want? What more could you want? What more could anyone want? Over the last ten years, Roger Federer has taken sport, artistry and sporting artistry to unfathomable, unimaginable levels; levels it is incumbent upon us to savour, for one day, not too distant, he will leave us. Roger Federer.

And quite how Andy Murray gets by him this evening - in two sets noch - is not easy to reason through. Though their head-to-head record stands at eleven apiece, Murray needs to be at his best to compete, and palpably isn’t. Federer, meanwhile, has won both their meetings this year with reasonable comfort, all their meetings at this venue, most of their biggest matches, is in generally handy form, and playing without pressure.

But, if Murray can serve well and get on top of those backhands, he will make things very interesting - and even if not, his approach this evening, under the guidance of Amelie Mauresmo, will be fascinating. There is simply nothing more compelling taking place on this planet at this time; it gets going at 8pm.

Preamble Roger Federer.