Federer Breaks Murray's Hold To Set Final With Djokovic

© Getty ImagesRoger Federer is bidding for his fourth tour-level title in five tournaments.

ATP World Tour No. 1 Roger Federer sent out warning message to his rivals ahead of his title defence at the US Open with a stunning display of tennis to dispatch No. 2 Andy Murray in the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters semi-finals Saturday. The Swiss was close to flawless throughout as he snapped a four-match losing streak against Murray with a 6-2, 7-6(8) victory over the defending champion at the prestigious ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament, where on Sunday he seeks to claim a third title.

Federer will meet Serbian Novak Djokovic, who snapped a five-match losing streak against Rafael Nadal with a 6-1, 6-4 win over the Spaniard, whom he also beat in the Cincinnati semi-finals last year.

It was a significant performance Saturday from Federer, who had a point to prove, having beaten one of his rivals in the Top 4 of the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings just once this season in six attempts. Federer will now have the chance to defeat another of his closest challengers in Sunday's final.

"He's a wonderful player, and he's had an incredible streak on hardcourts," Federer said of Murray. "He's just been very consistent, and it takes a great performance to beat him these days. That's what I was able to do today. I know it could be different, but right now obviously it helps my confidence. But I have to focus on what's to come, and this is the final tomorrow. The tournament is not won yet, even though I beat the second best player in the world right now. We'll see how it goes."

The 28-year-old Federer, who will attempt to clinch a sixth successive US Open title next month, is looking to close the gap on ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title leader Andre Agassi by winning his 16th of the coveted trophies. Agassi amassed 17 Masters 1000 titles in his illustrious career. Federer is also closing in on the American’s match-wins record, having recorded 201 victories in Masters 1000 tournaments to Agassi’s 209.

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A scintillating performance from Federer saw him take apart Murray in the first set, breaking twice to secure the 6-2 lead. Murray’s unfailing tenacity kept him level in the second set and forced a tie-break, but despite recovering from a 0-3 deficit and saving one match point at 7-6, Murray could not continue to deny the Swiss and squandered two set points before succumbing with his third double fault after 90 minutes. It was Federer’s first victory over Murray since the 2008 US Open final and reduced Murray’s head-to-head lead to 6-3.

"I stayed aggressive," assessed Federer. "I was always looking to make the plays, and I think in the end I deserved to win just because I wasn't scared to go after my shots. And I think I served well today. It was just overall a very good performance."

After enduring the disappointment of missing out on a fourth Australian Open title at the start of the season, Federer has been the man to beat on the ATP World Tour since May. The right-hander has won 25 of his past 26 matches, and saw a 21-match winning streak end last week in the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup (l. to Tsonga). He won three successive titles, beginning with victory over Nadal in the final of the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open before clinching the Roland Garros (d. Soderling) trophy for the first time and reclaiming his Wimbledon (d. Roddick) title in dramatic fashion to win his 15th major and break Pete Sampras’ record.

The Bottmingen resident, who recently became father to twin girls, is bidding for a third title in Cincinnati. He previously lifted the trophy in 2005 (d. Roddick) and ’07 (d. Blake).

New World No. 2 Andy Murray was looking to win back-to-back ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles after claiming his fourth Masters 1000 trophy last week at the Rogers Cup (d. del Potro) in Montreal. Earlier in the season, he reached successive Masters 1000 titles at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where he lost out to Nadal, and the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, where he defeated Djokovic.

Despite Saturday’s defeat, Murray was upbeat about his preparations for the US Open and his chances to claim his first major title: “I played seven, I thought, very solid matches. And then yesterday (against Benneteau) and today weren't so good. That could have down to a combination of things: My opponent was playing well, my level dropping slightly. In both matches I just started a little bit sluggish and then managed to find my game. I don't know if that's a sort of mental fatigue thing or not just playing consecutive days a lot.

“It was good for my fitness to get used to the heat and the conditions. Any of the guys will tell you that playing in this heat these back-to-back weeks is very difficult to do well in both of them. I think I've had a good, good few weeks. It's been perfect preparation for the US Open. I'll go there this evening or tomorrow and rest up for a couple days and train hard before it starts.”

The 22 year old, who is the highest-ranked British player in ATP history, leads the ATP World Tour with a 53-8 match record on the season - including five titles - already assuring him a place at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the end of the year along with Federer and Nadal. He was looking to defend the title he won last year in Cincinnati, when he defeated Djokovic in straight sets to claim his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title.