First set holds the key in Australian Open finals: Rusedski

London, Jan 30 (ANI): British tennis legend Greg Rusedski has said that the final between No.1 Roger Federer and No.5 Andy Murray will be a tough encounter with the first set holding the key.

"If Roger Federer wins the opening set, he goes on to win 97 per cent of his matches. It is so important that Murray is aggressive from the start and takes the match to the world No.1. He cannot afford to be passive like he was for the first hour against Marin Cilic in the semi-final," he said.

"Murray must take the ball on the rise by stepping up to the baseline, serving well and mixing up his tactics by serving and volleying. He cannot allow Federer to dictate the pattern of the match," The Mirror quoted Rusedski, as saying.

Commenting on Federer's weakness, Rusedski said his backhand is pretty rock solid and when he loses it is usually his forehand, which misfires.

"And he has lost finals to Rafa Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro. He was also knocked out in the 2008 semi-finals in Australia by Novak Djokovic, so he is fallible. But I picked Federer and Serena Williams to win before the tournament and I'll stick with that," Rusedski said. (ANI)