Andy Murray thrashes Roger Federer to set up Shanghai Masters final against Novak Djokovic Murray thus earned a break with just a single touch of the ball. He had already set up 0-15 with one of many searing service returns. Murray held on to his advantage to take that first set 6-4, and then there was a peculiar interlude at the start of the second when Federer suggested that there were spots of rain in the air, and the match should be halted. Had he been cruising through his service games in his normal imperious manner, he might barely have noticed a few tiny drops of water on the court. But this was an uncomfortable match for him, so perhaps he was sensitive to small distractions. The debate came midway through a 19-minute game, which featured seven break points for Murray, and one quite bewilderingly brilliant rally in which Federer somehow fought his way back from the brink with three successive strokes of genius: a pinpoint lob, a forehand attack down the line, and an angled drop volley that dropped just inside the court. But while Federer would occasionally produce one of the inspired moments that are his trademark, too many of the bread-and-butter points were going to Murray. Federer was getting drawn into a lot of backhand-to-backhand cross court rallies, which Murray invariably won. And then there were the many second serves that were smacked back even faster than they travelled. As Murray settled into his return stance, he had that eager expression you see in a batsman who is hitting every ball for six. The rain returned, more seriously this time, as Murray was about to serve for the match at 5-4 up. The roof of the Qizhong Arena had to be closed, which necessitated a 36-minute delay. But it never felt as if the hold-up was likely to change the momentum of the match: Murray had been too dominant for that. As soon as the players came back on court, he played out a straightforward game to hold to 15. Federer sliced a return into the net to complete a below-par performance in which he never really got to grips with Murray's serve. Federer's watching coach Paul Annacone may have some work to do as the players move forward into the indoor season, but at least that is Federer's strongest suit. He is defending titles in Basle, Paris and at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, and after the way he took Murray apart once the roof came over in the Wimbledon final this summer, he will feel he can regroup from this. As for Djokovic, he has only lost once - to Murray in New York - in 16 hard-court matches since the Olympics. He is in the serving form of his life, nailing 75 per cent of his first serves, and accumulating 26 aces so far in the tournament. Sunday's final should produce some more spectacular tennis.