Federer tops Murray, wins Australian Open

Federer, a Swiss who is the world's No. 1 ranked player, needed just more than 2 1/2 hours in defeating Scot Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11). It was the fourth Australian Open title for Federer, who also won in Melbourne in 2004, '06 and '07 and only Roy Emerson, with six championships, has won the tournament more often.

The Swiss player holds three of the four major tournament titles, having taken the French Open and Wimbledon last year but losing in the U.S. Open final.

Sunday marked the second major tournament final for Murray, but it ended with the same result. He lost the 2008 U.S. Open championship match to Federer in straight sets.

The No. 5-seeded Murray had a very strong tournament, losing just one set in earning a shot at the title. But Sunday was vintage Federer, with the Swiss player notching the first of four breaks in Murray's first service game and finishing off another to go up 5-3. He didn't face a break point in winning the second set.

Murray showed some fight in the second set, allowing Federer to convert just one of seven break-point chances, and went up 4-2 in the third with a break.

But Federer kept Murray from taking the set with a late break.

Murray had five set points in the see-saw tie-breaker only to have Federer answer. Federer earned his third match point with a passing shot and the match ended with a Murray backhand into the net.

Copyright 2010 United Press International.