Murray masters Fed in Shanghai

Andy Murray produced a dominant performance to beat Roger Federer 6-4 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.

Federer simply had no answer for Murray's power and variety and it was a relatively simple task for the Olympic champion to set-up a US Open final re-match with old foe Novak Djokovic on Sunday.

Murray showed a lot more belief than he has done in the past against Federer, as he consistently went for big winners and the quality and power of his groundstrokes had his opponent scrambling around the baseline.

Returns of serve were also huge for Murray, and Federer visibly looked at odds with himself on court with double faults and unforced errors creeping up and far more occasions than we are used to - with him seemingly having no answers to the new aggressive Murray.

British number one Murray came flying out of the blocks in the first set by breaking Federer in the very first game, but the Swiss star replied in kind to break in the next as it quickly became clear they were both ready to become embroiled in a slugfest.

Federer had to win from deuce in the third game, but he could not get a foothold in the fifth as Murray broke to love before serving out the set to win 6-4 in 43 minutes.

The first game of the second set proved to be an absolute classic, with Murray firing away in cavalier fashion and Federer being forced to scramble for his life to fend off six break points.

It was then that the 17-time grand slam winner spotted a few drops of rain on the court and quickly called a halt to proceedings despite the urgings of both Murray and the umpire.

It was only a six-minute break but it was enough to get a second wind and after an epic rally to save a seventh break point Federer finally managed to hold, but he was still looking as uncomfortable as he's ever been on a tennis court.

Again it was the fifth game of a set that Murray produced his best tennis, with two thundering winners forcing deuce and a stunning forehand return clinching the break - at the eighth time of asking in the set.

Just as Murray was about to serve for the match, the rain again started to fall, this time seriously, so the roof of the stadium in Shanghai was eventually closed but he made no mistake with a swift service game after the resumption to cruise into the final.