Federer beats Murray for fifth Dubai title

ROGER Federer won his fifth Dubai Tennis Championship title with a 7-5 6-4 victory over Andy Murray in Saturday’s final.

Sunday, March 04, 2012
Federer kisses the Dubai Tennis Championship trophy shortly after beating Murray in the final

ROGER Federer won his fifth Dubai Tennis Championship title with a 7-5 6-4 victory over Andy Murray in Saturday’s final.Five years after his fourth title, Federer confirmed that he is still up there to be reckoned with as he proved too strong for the British number one.Murray broke Federer once, but was himself broken three times, and two of those came at crucial periods at the end of the first and second sets and proved to be the difference.Murray still owns a winning 8-7 record in head-to-head matches with the former world number one, but Federer has won four of their six meetings in finals and continues to have the edge when it really matters.Federer has looked back at somewhere near his best of late and again in the final he looked smooth and strong and won almost all of the big points when they were needed.