All that Abu Dhabi saw of Roger Federer doing what he does better than most was a fleeting hour and 50 minutes before he was packing his bags. Today, the third day in succession, Andy Murray will be the centre of attention and it is unlikely to be the last time he basks in such limelight.

Federer was booked to appear in the Capitala World Championship - a slightly exaggerated title for a three-day shindig - on the premise that he would play at least twice and not have to high-tail it to Qatar until Sunday evening. Instead, the world No2 will reach his first port of call on the 2009 ATP Tour earlier than planned, courtesy of a third consecutive defeat by someone who is starting to become a real pain to him. Although this result will not appear in the record books - exhibitions are not considered real tennis - the outcome matters psychologically and, there, Murray is developing a distinct head of steam.

Beating Federer any time, anywhere is a considerable trophy and Murray having done so in each of the past three matches after dropping the first set, underscores the merits. There was much to admire about both men yesterday - their approach, application and shot-making was full of class - especially the way Murray responded in the third-set tie-break. Who would want to face him in one of those? Not even Rafael Nadal, the world No1, whose first match in nine weeks was a notable triumph, a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Nikolay Davydenko that set up the Wimbledon champion for today's final against the Scot.

Murray's margin of victory was 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 and, although he is quick to remember the sour taste left by his straight-sets drubbing in the US Open Final in September - “he beat me pretty bad,” he said - an end-of-year flourish that included two wins over the Swiss, in the Madrid Masters and the Masters Cup in Shanghai, are memories on which he loves to draw.

Early on in the piece yesterday, the 13-times grand-slam champion decided that attack was the best form of defence, net-rushing, volleying and crowding for all he was worth, but it takes a brave man to sustain that strategy, even in what was little more than a glorified practice session.

Federer did not look particularly confident despite winning the first set and, indeed, Murray ran off ten of the next 13 games and might have won a good deal more handily had he not whiffed at a lob when having a point to lead 5-1 in the third set. Murray went for an exaggerated leap, but left the floor a good three seconds too early and the ball floatedly embarrassingly over his head.

Federer drew inspiration from that lapse, won four games in a row and threatened to take his place in the final, but Murray was not ready to relinquish his chance of the £170,000 winner-takes-all cheque. “Andy had a fantastic end to last year and I hope for another terrible year with only one grand-slam title, that will be fine for me,” Federer said later, as if expecting an early-season inquiry like so many that laced his progress through 2008.

Murray insisted that, as part of his preparation for the Australian Open, which starts on January 19, this was simply a matter of “steady as he goes”. One man sees a lot more to it than that. John Newcombe, the 64-year-old seven-times grand-slam champion, believes Murray is the man to beat in Melbourne. “He got to No4 in the world, but the way he was playing at the end of the year, in 12 months' time you think he'll be close to No1,” the Australian said.

“How will Nadal's injuries stand up? And [Novak] Djokovic, let's see how he handles the nerves when he's defending his title. I'm sure Federer has been doing very serious training and realises he has to come up with something a bit extra. The way they finished last year, I wouldn't be surprised to see Murray as the guy that will step up and win.”