Murray eyes perfect storm against Federer

Andy Murray admits only his perfect game will be good enough to defeat six-time champion Roger Federer in today’s Wimbledon final and become Britain’s first men’s champion in 76 years.

The 25-year-old Scot, the first Briton in the final since Bunny Austin in 1938, is desperate to be the home country’s first champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

But standing in his way is 30-year-old Federer, the 16-time Grand Slam title winner written off as a spent-force by many in the sport, but who can equal Pete Sampras’s record of seven Wimbledon triumphs this afternoon.

Victory would also put Federer, who knocked out defending champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, back on top of the world rankings after a two-year absence.

Murray leads Federer 8-7 in career meetings, but the great Swiss has won their only meetings in Grand Slam finals – the 2008 US Open and 2010 Australian Open.

“I just need to try and make sure I play a perfect match on Sunday,” said Murray, who reached the final with a four-set win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

“It obviously would be very nice (to beat Federer), but I can’t allow myself to think that far ahead. I’ll just focus on getting the tactics right.

“There’s obviously going to be nerves and pressure, but I need to try and stay focused.”

Murray has been desperately close to the final in the last three years, but came up short in the semi-finals, losing to Andy Roddick in 2009 and then suffering back-to-back losses to Rafael Nadal, a shock second round casualty this year.

Murray believes he can thrive on being the underdog against Federer who will be playing in a record eighth Wimbledon final.

“He’s one of the greatest ever players. He’s been doing it consistently over a number of years. The matches he has lost the last couple of years were five sets against Tsonga (2011), five sets against Berdych (2010), five sets against Rafa. He’s very, very tough to beat here,” he said.

“It’s a great challenge, one where I’m probably not expected to win, but one that, if I play well, I’m capable of winning. The pressure that I would be feeling if it was against somebody else I guess it would be different.

“But there will be less on me on Sunday because of who he is.”

Federer has had some almighty struggles at Wimbledon in recent years as well as this campaign.

After winning his sixth title in an epic final in 2009 over Roddick, he fell to quarter-final defeats to Tomas Berdych in 2010 and Tsonga, from two sets to love up, in 2011.

This year, he came back from two sets to love behind to beat French journeyman Julien Benneteau and needed treatment on a back injury during his fourth round win over Xavier Malisse.

Despite the last of Federer’s 16 Grand Slam titles having come over two years ago at the 2010 Australian Open, he believes he won’t feel a sense of desperation today.

“There’s a lot on the line for me. I’m not denying that. I have a lot of pressure, as well. I’m looking forward to that. That’s what I work hard for,” he said.

“I’ve worked extremely hard since I lost that match point against Novak last year at the US Open (Federer lost a five-set thriller to the Serb). My run has been extremely good. Now I have a chance at world No. 1, at the title again all at once.

“So it’s a big match for me and I hope I can keep my nerves. I’m sure I can.”