Federer and Murray in big showdown

IT’S the Big Two at the O2. Deadly rivals Andy Murray and Roger Federer will have a showdown in London tomorrow night with £1m at stake.

The world No.1 and the 22-year-old Scot both won their first matches in the Barclays ATP Tour finals at London’s 02 Arena.

Now they will face off with the winner almost guaranteed a place in the semi-finals of the tournament and in line for the six-figure payout if they lift the trophy on Sunday

Murray and Fed share the lead in Group A after the Scot beat Juan del Potro 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and the Swiss payer came back to beat Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

The battle is almost certain to be watched by the biggest crowd for a tennis match in Britain. More than 17,000 saw Murray beat Del Potro yesterday. But organisers believe that figure will be smashed when the big two clash by the banks of the Thames.

Murray is relishing the chance to take on and beat Federer again. His record against the player who has won more majors than anyone else is six victories to three defeats.

The 22-year-old from Dunblane said: “You have to win two group matches out of three to give yourself a chance of going through in this tournament. If I win this one, it will put me in a good position.”

But Murray admits that while he will hear his supporters, he will not see them.

“The atmosphere was great out there,” he said of the arena where he defeated the US Open champion in just over two hours. “But it’s different. You can not see the crowd when you are on court,” he added of playing under bright lights that focus on the court and nothing else.

But the Scot feels home support can lift him to his biggest title.

“When I got close to winning against Del Potro, the atmosphere was excellent. That’s going to make a big difference going into the next couple of matches,” he said.