FOREHAND PASSING SHOTS - TENNIS 24/7: Australian Open 2013

Murray's serving was superb

Australian Open 2013 Day 12 - Impressive Murray sees off Federer

All eyes on day 12 in Melbourne were on the much anticipated semi-final battle between Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer and US Open and Olympic Champion Andy Murray.

After exactly four hours it was the British No.1 who emerged victorious 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 6-7(2-7), 6-2 to move through to a second Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic.

Yes the record books will show this was a five set contest but the truth is that Murray was the dominant player for the majority of the match. He could have won this in three straight sets or certainly in four sets, which he very nearly did.

Murray was superior in most areas. The British No.1 was broken just twice while breaking Federer six times - and he hit 19 more winners (62 to 43) including 16 more aces (21 to 5).

The match came down to the fact that Murray could hit through the court and Federer but the Swiss four-time winner simply could not hit through Murray for the most part.

Federer did not hit an ace till the 57th minute of the match. After two sets of the match Federer had won just 17% of baseline rallies. Both stats that would have been unthinkable even a couple of years ago and merely underlines Murray's dominance.

Federer was constantly put under pressure

However huge credit must go to the Swiss for displaying the characteristics of a great champion by digging in and finding some inspired tennis to steal sets two and four.

The 31 year-old second seed capitalised on one moment of fortune at 5-5 in the second set tie-break - when Murray could not put away an overhead - to hit a crucial backhand passing shot and then levelled the match.

On the verge of defeat in the fourth set with Murray serving at 6-5 301-5 Federer found a gutsy backhand down the line winner and then an amazing stretched backhand return on break point.

Federer then swept through he subsequent tie-break and would have appeared to have the momentum going into the decider.

However this was where Murray showed what a true Champion he has become. As in New York, where he lost a two set lead, the British No.1 showed no let down after losing a set he looked certain to win.

The World No.3 was vastly superior in the deciding set. Murray broke Federer at the first opportunity in the second game and never looked back.

The 2010 and 2011 Australian Open finalist was never threatened on serve and broke Federer one final time in the eighth game when a Swiss forehand landed over the net.

Much has been made of Murray's first victory over Federer in a major and it is certainly a significant one. Each of the Grand Slam finals they had played had got closer and after the Olympic final this was a logical result. Murray will now have a clear upper hand in future major meetings.

Now the Briton will now need to recover and look to emulate his US Open victory over Djokovic. It should be a thrilling spectacle.