Murray to fall short in semis against old foe Federer

US Open champion Andy Murray will be confident ahead of his Masters Cup semi-final clash with Roger Federer given that he is one of an elite few who can boast a positive record against the Swiss legend.

The Scot is 8/11 favourite to take his win total over Federer to 12 when the players renew hostilities for the 20th time at the O2 and comes into the game off the back of winning four of the five semi-final clashes the pair have contested in the past.

A further boost for the world number three is that he has gotten the better of the man sitting one place higher in the current rankings in their previous two meetings without so much as dropping a set.

A price of 2/1 says Murray will make it a hat-trick of straight sets victories and book a place in the final.
Federer will not be overly perturbed by his recent shortcomings against Murray, especially with a record such as the one he possesses in this tournament.

Since 2002 he has only failed to make the final twice and has taken the trophy home on six occasions, including the previous two.

He is also more accustomed to this particular surface, having played eight more games indoors than Murray in 2012 and, unsurprisingly, Federer has the stronger record. He’s won 11 of his 13 matches, while Murray has won just three of his five.

If the Swiss is to claim his spot in an eighth Masters Cup final, 2-1 is most likely to be the score that ensures his passage.

This is based on the fact that Murray has not surrendered a straight sets defeat in 21 successive matches since losing to Jeremy Chardy in Cincinatti as part of his US Open preparations.

A Federer win in three sets pays out at a handsome 10/3.

Backing over 23.5 games at 1/1 could also be worth a bet here as in two thirds of the meetings the pair have contested in this competition this has been the outcome. If, as anticipated, the game goes the distance this is almost certain to come in.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date