In many ways, this final has similarities to the US Open final minus the wind.  Novak Djokovic strolled to the finals without struggling too badly.  Given his form heading into the finals, he was favored over Murray who had yet to win his first Slam and had struggled in several of his matches–matches that went on a bit long for someone to contend.  Some criticized Murray’s eventual win on a Federer loss to Berdych making his semifinal match somewhat easier than playing Federer though, to be fair, Berdych was playing pretty good tennis.

This time, critics will have to say that Murray did play Federer.  Federer had been closing the head-to-head that separated him from Murray.  Murray had won a few matches early in his career circa 2008 when Federer’s game was still iffy.  Although Federer reached every final in 2008 (well, except the Australian Open), he was struggling to find his form, shanking balls, losing to up-and-comers.  Murray was one of those players that took advantage of this.

But 2011 was good for Federer and he had been creeping up on Murray and tied their head-to-head with a victory at Wimbledon.  Murray would get the edge at the Olympics.

Heading into this match, Federer had looked solid, more solid than Murray.  Federer had a nice straight set win over Cilic while Murray needed a third set surge to take his QF match over Stepanek.  Even so, Federer had his struggles in the previous round when Wawrinka took a set off the Swiss number 1, but Federer struck back with a love third set.

Murray appears to alter his strategy, sometimes significantly so, depending on his opponent.  Against Federer, Murray opted to attack hard to the Federer backhand, and then return very aggressively.  He opened up with a break, but was broken back, then broke again, and held to take the first set.  The second set saw Murray with chances to break again, but Federer escaped once early on.  However, with a series of double faults, Federer gave up another break, and Murray, despite a rain delay that caused the roof to close, was able to hold serve, and take the match 64 64.

Federer seemed a bit agitated, and was hoping a rain delay might help as he asked the umpire to halt play.  Play was eventually halted until the roof was closed, but Murray kept his calm and won the match.

Djokovic still looks commanding as he beat Tomas Berdych, 63 64.

It will be interesting to see how the finals will shape up.  Presumably, there will be a lack of wind, so we might get a sense of how the match might have turned out had it been played in less breezy conditions.  Djokovic, if one recalls, struggled mightily against Ferrer in the wind, and was only saved when the match was continued the following day in decidedly more pleasant situations.