Andy Murray falls prey to 'reborn panther' Roger Federer

A RESURGENT Roger Federer took a huge step towards a record 18th Grand Slam title as he overcame Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in the quarter finals of the Australian Open.

The Swiss, whose career appeared to be on the wane last season, will now face his old foe Rafa Nadal in the semi-final in Melbourne after beating the British number one 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 in just under three-and-a-half hours.

In the wake of Federer's four-set win opinion was divided over whether it was his new aggressive style of play under coach Sefan Edberg or the lingering effects of Murray's back surgery last autumn that was the crucial factor.

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Most observers thought that it was Federer who made the difference. "Playing with a larger, more powerful racquet this year, and under the guidance of six-time Grand Slam champion Stefan Edberg, his game was simply too strong for Murray," writes Piers Newbery of the BBC.

Federer's new approach paid "dividends from the off," reports ESPN. "With the Swiss taking control of rallies with an aggressive style that saw him rush the net a number of times, winning 87 per cent of such points in the first set alone."

It total he won 49 of 66 points at the net, says The Guardian, which notes that Federer "looks reborn as an attacking court panther".

Working with Edberg appears to have renewed Federer's confidence, agrees the Daily Telegraph, but it notes that Murray was the higher ranked player in this match, the first time that has been the case in their 21 meetings.

The Scot was playing "at a higher level than he had at any other time in the tournament", but came up against a challenger who was "in rare form".

Federer won the first two sets with ease and had two match points in the third, only for Murray to save the day. The Wimbledon champion briefly threatened a "miracle comeback" but, says the paper, "in only his seventh match after back surgery, he ran out of steam".

The result was proof that Murray is not yet up to speed says the Daily Mail. His performance was "gutsy and courageous but his back just wasn't quite what it needed to be".