Smash hit

23.17BST Federer 4, Murray 4 (Sets: 1-0) Murray wins the game with a strong sliced second serve. What is concerning however is that Murray clutched his right knee during that game in apparent discomfort.

23.14BST Federer 4, Murray 3 (Sets: 1-0) The champion wins the seventh game of the set and the pair return to their chairs. Just to give you an idea of the gulf between these players' experience, Federer has 12 grand slam titles to his name and $42million in career prize money, while Murray has accrued £3million and won none. That won't prevent him from believing that he can claim his first tonight.

23.10BST Federer 3, Murray 3 (Sets: 1-0) Murray holds again. He has worked himself right back into this final from a precarious position.

23.05BST Federer 3, Murray 2 (Sets: 1-0) Federer digs deep to save three more break points. In a glaring error, Murray fails to convert one of them by not challenging a shot from Federer that went long. Let's hope he doesn't come to rue that mistake. We are enjoying some excellent tennis. A telling statistic that will cheer Murray fans: Federer has made 7 unforced errors to Murray's 3 in the second set.

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Murray is not your polite public schoolboy. He’s a ferocious stand up and be counted Scot

Simon Barnes

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22.57BST Federer 2, Murray 2 (Sets: 1-0) Murray holds. He has sat deep and played from the baseline throughout, with Federer much more willing - and able - to come into the net. I'd like to see the Scot mix it up a little more.

22.53BST Federer 2, Murray 1 (Sets: 1-0) Superb! Murray shows his fighting spirit. In a fantastic game, he breaks Federer's serve to love.

22.50BST Federer 2, Murray 0 (Sets: 1-0) Oh dear, the Scot is on the ropes. Murray loses the first two points of the game, but recovers well and aggressively to win the next three. After going to deuce with a mishit shot, he fires in a 133mph first serve. He can't close things out though and, after slamming a easy forehand into the net, is broken at the end of a long rally. Federer is playing the angles and opening up Murray so impressively. Can the world No 4 hang on?

22.44BST Federer 1, Murray 0 (Sets: 1-0) Federer claims the first game of the second set. His serve is firing, his groundstrokes deep and accurate and he has the look of a man determined to get the job done. Murray will have to put in the performance of his life.

22.37BST Federer 6, Murray 2 The Swiss seals a fantastic first set and we're only 26 minutes in... The Scot pulls a lacklustre backhand into the net on the first point of the game, recovers to 15-15, before sending the third point long. A ballooned shot is then dispatched by Federer to take three set points. He needs only two.

22.35BST Federer 5, Murray 2 Federer looks ominously good, opening up Murray with a ripping forehand before finishing him off with another. Murray could struggle to live with this unless he finds a way of putting some pressure on the champion.

22.32BST Federer 4, Murray 2 The Scot is broken on the first of two break points, sending a forehand wide of the tramlines. How he responds will be very telling...

22.28BST Federer 3, Murray 2 Another solid service game from the world No 2, all going with serve in the compelling opening exchanges. Those cheering for Murray will be buoyed by the fact that the Scot doesn't look overawed by his surrounds...and don't forget he leads the Swiss 2-1 head-to-head.