Day of reckoning...
Well, the new meets the old in about 3.5 hours. I can hardly wait (although I'd probably be asleep by then). Hope Federer wins, although Murray must be in good form? Well, officially I'd say:
US Open 2008 F: [6] A. Murray v. [2] R. Federer - Federer
Murray is officially the new number 4 on Monday, and with his recent surge in form, I'd say it's well deserved. The question now is, is he mentally ready, in his first Grand Slam final, to take on the guy who's taken the title the four consecutive times before this? I really don't have the answer to that. Head-to-head is in Murray's favour (Dubai 08 R32, Cincinnati 06 R32 vs. Federer's lone win in the 2005 Bangkok final), but Federer's record in hardcourt Grand Slam finals is impeccable (I checked). Recent form: Murray's speaks for itself (a win over Nadal in any form speak volumes IMV), Federer's... not so much.
It comes down to the mental game. I think Federer has a significant advantage there, but how far it will carry him this time, this year, is really up in the air. I'm going to bet on him, but this one is a real coin toss.
EDIT (23:24): This is actually rather exciting. On serve in the second set at 5-4, with Murray to serve next to stay in the set. Federer took the first 6-2. MY INTERNET IS CRAWLING so I cannot stream at this time. Even the scoreboard is crawling. Very frustrating.
... Actually my stomach is all tied up in knots even though I purportedly wrote off the rest of Federer's year before this tournament. I want him to win this. Very, very badly. Goodbye, objectivity.
(23:34) YESS! Second set goes to Federer, 7-5. He now leads 2-0 in sets. Past my bedtime (have to be up and about at 7) but it's the US Open final, for goodness sakes.
(23:46) And a break at what appears to be love for a 2-0 lead in the third set. I am monumentally pleased, although Murray now has a half-chance in the current Federer serve game. Oh, lookit that. 3-0 now.
... Scratch that. 5-0 in the third, Murray to serve next. What happened?
(23:54) He is serving for the set. He is serving for the match. No, actually, let's just put it this way. It's one game away from ending his hardcourt title drought, which dates back to last year's TMC Shanghai win. It's one game away from redemption, one game away from vindication, one game away from ending 8 dark-ish months of doubt and disappointment.
And Murray has a break point at 30-40. With the break, and it's 5-2, Federer.
(Oh, what hell hath thou wrought?) Wrap this up, quickly. Some of us need to go to bed. But the adrenaline won't let us, see?
{00:00 9/9/08) 15-30 on Murray's serve, 2-5 in the third. DEUCE. That's right, Murray. Wake up now, rather than at the beginning of the third.
MATCH POINT FEDERER. (It feels good to say this.)
And deuce. (Murray's serving well, I think.)
AND AGAIN.
(00:04) YESSSSS. Deal sealed.
US Open 2008 F: [2] R. Federer d. [6] A. Murray 62 75 62
The feeling is awesome. I'll have to find a copy of this match next week, having not-watched it for almost 2 hours.
For now, I congratulate Federer for his all-around awesomeness. It's been a rough year, and just as everything was looking bad (hello early exits at Toronto, Cincinnati and to a certain extent the Olympics?) there was a profound turnaround. Extremely heartening to see.
Roundup to come in the next few days. It's off to bed for me now.
US Open 2008 F: [6] A. Murray v. [2] R. Federer - Federer
Murray is officially the new number 4 on Monday, and with his recent surge in form, I'd say it's well deserved. The question now is, is he mentally ready, in his first Grand Slam final, to take on the guy who's taken the title the four consecutive times before this? I really don't have the answer to that. Head-to-head is in Murray's favour (Dubai 08 R32, Cincinnati 06 R32 vs. Federer's lone win in the 2005 Bangkok final), but Federer's record in hardcourt Grand Slam finals is impeccable (I checked). Recent form: Murray's speaks for itself (a win over Nadal in any form speak volumes IMV), Federer's... not so much.
It comes down to the mental game. I think Federer has a significant advantage there, but how far it will carry him this time, this year, is really up in the air. I'm going to bet on him, but this one is a real coin toss.
EDIT (23:24): This is actually rather exciting. On serve in the second set at 5-4, with Murray to serve next to stay in the set. Federer took the first 6-2. MY INTERNET IS CRAWLING so I cannot stream at this time. Even the scoreboard is crawling. Very frustrating.
... Actually my stomach is all tied up in knots even though I purportedly wrote off the rest of Federer's year before this tournament. I want him to win this. Very, very badly. Goodbye, objectivity.
(23:34) YESS! Second set goes to Federer, 7-5. He now leads 2-0 in sets. Past my bedtime (have to be up and about at 7) but it's the US Open final, for goodness sakes.
(23:46) And a break at what appears to be love for a 2-0 lead in the third set. I am monumentally pleased, although Murray now has a half-chance in the current Federer serve game. Oh, lookit that. 3-0 now.
... Scratch that. 5-0 in the third, Murray to serve next. What happened?
(23:54) He is serving for the set. He is serving for the match. No, actually, let's just put it this way. It's one game away from ending his hardcourt title drought, which dates back to last year's TMC Shanghai win. It's one game away from redemption, one game away from vindication, one game away from ending 8 dark-ish months of doubt and disappointment.
And Murray has a break point at 30-40. With the break, and it's 5-2, Federer.
(Oh, what hell hath thou wrought?) Wrap this up, quickly. Some of us need to go to bed. But the adrenaline won't let us, see?
{00:00 9/9/08) 15-30 on Murray's serve, 2-5 in the third. DEUCE. That's right, Murray. Wake up now, rather than at the beginning of the third.
MATCH POINT FEDERER. (It feels good to say this.)
And deuce. (Murray's serving well, I think.)
AND AGAIN.
(00:04) YESSSSS. Deal sealed.
US Open 2008 F: [2] R. Federer d. [6] A. Murray 62 75 62
The feeling is awesome. I'll have to find a copy of this match next week, having not-watched it for almost 2 hours.
For now, I congratulate Federer for his all-around awesomeness. It's been a rough year, and just as everything was looking bad (hello early exits at Toronto, Cincinnati and to a certain extent the Olympics?) there was a profound turnaround. Extremely heartening to see.
Roundup to come in the next few days. It's off to bed for me now.