Service steers Murray to victory

Andy Murray felt his "huge" serve was the key to his impressive comeback victory over world number two Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters.

Murray deservedly overcame Federer 3-6 6-3 7-5 in a performance which ranks among the Scot's best of the season.

"I served huge. My second serve was very good," said Murray, who has now won three of his five career meetings with the Swiss superstar. "I served great, and that was the key. I didn't give him too many chances and that was the reason I won."

The victory also earned Murray revenge for his straight-sets defeat to Federer in last month's US Open, where the 21-year-old was playing his first Grand Slam final.

In that defeat at Flushing Meadows Murray struck just three aces in the whole match, but in Saturday's clash he fired down 14 - twice as many as Federer - and looked dominant in the majority of his service games.

He added: "I've been practising it (serving) a lot and also being stronger helps, I haven't really changed anything technically."

Federer also admitted Murray's serve had played a big part in the result, but the second seed felt he had not helped his own cause in that respect.

"From Andy's side, I thought Andy served very well today. I returned better in the US Open," he said.

"I think he did well, it was an even match. I could have avoided the second set break. But he did well to hang in there and it was a close match to the end."