Swiss tennis star Roger Federer has beaten Andy Murray 7-5, 6-4 to seal his fifth Dubai Championships title.
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Murray defeated world number one Novak Djokovic in the last four to reach Saturday’s final. But the British player was no match for the fluid, attacking Swiss, who mixed powerful groundstrokes, drop shots and the occasional serve-and-volley.
Federer, 30, who didn’t drop a set all week, broke Murray to go up 6-5 and clinched the first set when the third-seeded Briton hit a forehand wide.
The two players traded breaks early in the second set before Federer broke decisively to make it 5-4. Murray saved one match point before the Swiss maestro sealed victory with a blistering winner.
“This is perfect. This is great. Any title is a good one, I’ll tell you that,” Federer said. “I have a losing record against Murray, I do believe, and not against Novak … I don’t want to say (beating Murray) means more to me but it’s a beautiful victory.”
It was Federer’s 72nd career title and second this year. He won last month in Rotterdam.
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