Statisfaction: Looking at Federer and Murray's Epic "Match within a Match"

By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Getty

(July 10, 2012)--It's always been said that tennis matches hinge upon who plays the big points the best, and Sunday's Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray was certainly no exception.

The sixth game of the third set was a veritable match within a match, as Federer and Murray struggled to wrestle control of the final from each other over the course of 20 riveting minutes that featured 26 points, 6 break points, 10 deuces, 3 tumbles, 12 Judy Murray fist-pumps, and 3 ridiculous, back-breaking lobs from Roger Federer.

The game went from being a must-win for Murray, who had blown a 40-0 lead and failed to convert on four game points in the first eight points of the game, to being a must-win for Federer, who surely couldn't afford the blow to his confidence that would have come with failing to convert on six break point opportunities.

In the end, it was clear that it was a game of massive implications for both players, and when Federer finally forced the pivotal Murray error on the 26th point, there was the feeling that Roger would have wind in his sails for the remainder of the match, while Murray would be left to ponder what might have been while licking his wounds.

Here's a blow-by-blow of the game, complete with a few classic quotes from Boris Becker.

1. Things started innocently enough as Murray hammers a cross-court backhand passing shot to take the early lead. 15-0, Murray

2. Federer chips Murray's second serve, then proceeds to plop an inside-in forehand attempt in the tramlines on the 6th shot of the rally. 30-0 Murray

3. An ace down the T, and this is going to be a routine hold for Murray, right? 40-0 Murray

4. Fed goes for broke, hammering Murray's second serve for a backhand cross-court winner. 40-15 Murray

5. Fed hammers another backhand return off of Murray's second serve, and Murray nets the reply. Uh-oh. 40-30 Murray

6. Now things are getting interesting. Murray misses another first serve, then Federer takes control of the rally by hitting a booming backhand down the line. Murray lobs to the baseline, and Roger hits an overhead with lots of english then serves up a forehand dropper on Murray's short reply.

Then all hell breaks loose as Murray hustles in to make a play and ends up falling ass-over-teakettle as he nets a forehand. "It looked far worse than it hopefully is," says Boris Becker. Deuce

7. Murray gets a rare service winner. "C'mon!" Ad-Murray

8. Murray can't close, again. He misses a forehand long after Federer gives him a sumptuous backhand slice down the line to chew on. Murray smacks his own head in disgust. Deuce #2

9. Oh, no. It looked as if Murray had the point won, as he hit a big forehand after a feeble return from Federer, but Federer casually sends up a backhand lob that lands just inside the line, then booms a forehand that causes Murray to leave his feet for the second time in the game (this time on purpose). But his attempt is in vain. Ad-Federer, BP#1

10. A big 1-2 combo gets Murray back to deuce. Deuce #3

11. Roger deviates from his chip backhand, running around the Murray 2nd serve and walloping two forehands in succession, the second one for a cross-court winner. Ad-Federer, BP #2

12. A rare clutch serve for Murray in this game: A booming serve out wide from Murray glances off of Roger's racquet. Deuce #4

13. Roger runs around Murray's second serve again, and Murray replies with a feeble backhand error that drizzles into the net. Tightest shot of the game for Murray. Ad-Federer, BP#3

14. Roger runs around another second serve, in fact, he almost ran into the crowd, and all Murray has to do is find the court with his backhand to score the winner and get back to deuce. Deuce #5

15. Murray makes a rare first serve, takes control of the point with a cross-court forehand, then knocks off a backhand volley winner for another game point. Ad-Murray

16. Poor Andy. He can't buy a big first serve when he needs it right now. Fed chips back the second serve deep to Murray's backhand and proceeds to play a brilliant rally. He opens the court up with a huge down the line forehand, then follows with an inside-out forehand that overpowers Murray, forcing the error. "Murray has to be careful now, Federer's firing on all cylinders," says Boris Becker. Deuce #6

17. Murray handles Roger's slice return nicely on this point, ripping a forehand which elicits a forced backhand error from the Maestro. Ad-Murray

18. A sublime half-volley from Federer kisses the baseline at the end of a long rally and we're back to deuce. Deuce #7

19. Murray throws his racquet to the grass in disgust as his backhand sails well wide. He actually made a first serve, but Federer chipped the return neatly back. Ad-Federer, BP#4

20. Fed tries to run around another Murray second serve and he misses the return long. It's a gift, from Roger to Andy, and we're back to deuce. Deuce # 8

21. Murray makes a first serve, but Roger blisters a return back at him. A rally proceeds, with Murray once again sending a forehand long after one of those tantalizingly slow, grass-hugging Federer slices down the line. "Murray shouldn't get too frustrated now, it's the Federer genius that's coming out." (Why wouldn't that frustrate him?) (Mirka looks concerned, but not overly so.) Ad-Federer, BP#5

22. Oh, no. Federer gets another look at a Murray second serve and he shanks a topspin backhand long. Will this game ever end? Deuce # 9

23. Federer clobbers a backhand return and comes in behind it but Murray answers with a pristine forehand down the line pass that stamps the line. Ad-Murray

24. Federer's genius shows through once again as he hits three backhands crosscourt (two slices and one topspin), then, once Murray is lulled to sleep, he hauls off and blasts a forehand down the line that forces the Murray error. Deuce # 10

25. Murray hammers a first serve, Roger chips it back, then things get interesting. Murray hits a blistering forehand to set up a putaway, but he manages to muff it just enough so that Federer can stick out that magic wand of his and send an looping lob over Murray's head. Of course, Murray falls on the seat of his shorts for the third time in the game--"He's down! He's down!"--and the ball lands square on the baseline. Ad-Federer

26. This time Federer runs around a Murray second serve and makes it count. He lashes a crosscourt forehand followed by an inside-out forehand and all Murray can do is get the frame of his racquet on the last ball. Game, Federer

Odds and Ends:

The 26-point epic lasted 19 minutes and 28 seconds from the time that Murray hit his first serve to the time that the last ball landed out.

Murray made 10 of 26 first serves in the game.

Murray landed only one first serve on his seven game points.

Murray landed two first serves on Federer's six break points.

Federer ran around his backhand to hit five forehand returns, winning two points, including the eventual break point.

Federer hit exquisite lobs (3: one in the 6th point, one in the 9th point, and one in the 25th point) as many times as Murray wiped out (3, once ass-over-teakettle with the racquet flying, once on his hip, the other just simply on his ass).