Federer Slam's Murray's Tactics After Dubai Defeat

Roger Federer has criticized Andy Murray's tactics during the Scot's victory over the world No1 in Dubai yesterday, and questioned whether Murray is progressing as a player.

Murray knocked Federer out of the Dubai Championships in yesterday's opening round, but Federer today said he was unimpressed by Murray's lack of attacking intent, and does not believe that the British No1 has developed since they first crossed paths in the final of the 2005 Thailand Open.

"I don't think he has changed his game a whole lot since the first time I played him and I really thought he would have done," said Federer. "He is going to have to grind it very hard in the next few years if he is going to play this way. He stands way behind the court. You have to do a lot of running and he tends to wait for the mistakes of his opponent.

"I gave him the mistakes but overall, in a 15-year career, you want to look to win a point more often, rather than wait for the other guy to miss. Who knows, he might surprise us all."

Yesterday's victory was 20-year-old Murray's second consecutive win Federer after beating the Swiss in Cincinnati in 2006. Murray won 48 of 53 points on his first serve and Federer, who is six years Murray's senior, failed to push him to break point in any game. Murray faces Spain's Fernando Verdasco in the next round.