Federer sweeps Agassi for Year-End Title ( 2003-11-17 10:03) (Agencies)
Neither Andre Agassi nor
dreadful weather was going to stop Roger Federer.
Capping a perfect tournament with another sublime performance, Federer beat
Agassi 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 in a rain-interrupted final Sunday to win the season-ending
Tennis Masters Cup for his tour-high seventh title of 2003.
Federer earned $1,520,000 and moved up to No. 2 in the rankings, behind Andy
Roddick. The Wimbledon champion went 5-0 against an elite field, including
victories over the other reigning Grand Slam champions: Agassi (Australian
Open), Roddick (U.S. Open) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (French Open).
"This week has been great for me," Federer said. "I thought I was in the
toughest group, with the toughest opponents, and I came out winning each match
against really great players."
By the end of the event's most lopsided final since 1997, Agassi would shake
his head after losing points. He never managed one break point, while Federer
conjured 39 winners, three times as many as Agassi.
"I'd just like to congratulate Roger, not just for a great match today but
great tennis all week. You deserve to win this tournament, and it's an
inspiration to watch you move and play," Agassi said during the trophy
presentation.
Agassi is 33, Federer 22, and it didn't help Agassi's cause that all four of
his previous matches went the distance, including a round-robin loss to the
Swiss star.
"I wish I had more for you today," Agassi told the crowd. "It just wasn't
quite enough to get the job done."
Agassi was the event's oldest finalist since 1978, and was attempting to be
its oldest champion — Ilie Nastase was 29 in 1975. He also was hoping to set the
mark for longest gap between titles at the tour championship, having won it in
1990.
But Federer just was too good, before and after a 2 1/2-hour rain delay.
He served strongly, got the best of baseline rallies, and every so often won
a point with a shot that didn't appear to be an option. Repeatedly, Federer
would drive a ground stroke to a corner, forcing Agassi wide, and then deposit
his next shot into the open court for a clean winner.
As Roddick put it after losing to Federer in the semifinals: "The guy has
more natural flair and talent for the game than most — I mean, than anybody
really."
Rain fell until about a half-hour before the match started and returned after
38 minutes of play. By then, Agassi was in serious trouble, as a quick glance at
the statistics made clear: Federer owned edges of 23-6 in total winners, 7-0 in
aces and 39-25 in points. He also won four of the five points with 10 or more
strokes — an area normally ruled by Agassi, the consummate baseline artist.
Federer already was up a set and a break when the rain came with Agassi
serving at 0-2, love-30. When action resumed, Agassi promptly made two straight
errors from the baseline to get broken at love. After Federer held to 4-0 when
his forehand caught the net tape and trickled over, Agassi's four errors
contributed to another break.
Federer rolled through the first set, never facing deuce on his serve and
swatting at least one ace in each game.
He earned the set's lone break for a 3-1 edge. Federer reached break point
with a backhand winner, then hit a forehand that forced Agassi to flick an
over-the-shoulder backhand volley with his back to the net. The ball landed in,
but Agassi was out of position, and Federer sent a clean backhand winner down
the line.
Federer's serve isn't the fastest around, but his placement and pace changes
are outstanding. He ended the first set this way: service winner at 120 mph, ace
at 122 mph, serve into Agassi's body that drew a forehand return long, and a
crosscourt backhand passing winner at a seemingly impossible angle.
Agassi began the second set as poorly as possible, double-faulting to 15-40,
then double-faulting again to gift-wrap a 1-0 lead. Federer held to 2-0 with a
123 mph ace, then was up love-30 in the next game thanks to another double-fault
by Agassi.
That's when Agassi asked the chair umpire to check the slickness of the
court. Tournament supervisor Stefan Fransson asked the players to wait out the
bad weather, and Agassi and Federer draped towels over their shoulders to stay
warm.
That didn't work. After about 10 minutes, the drizzles turned into a downpour
with thunder, and the players were sent to the locker room.
When they came back out, Federer finished off the shutout in the second set,
then broke Agassi for the fifth time to go ahead 5-4 in the third. From there,
Federer simply had to serve it out, which he did, ending with his 11th ace.
Still, Agassi proved again this week that he has plenty of tennis left,
moving up one place to No. 4 in the rankings and leaving with $700,000.
The sport's future, meanwhile, could be marked by a Roddick-Federer rivalry.
Roddick, 21, finishes the season at No. 1, but Federer won one more title and
six more matches — a tour-leading 78 — and holds a 5-1 head-to-head edge over
the American.
"You kind of need to do a lot well," Roddick said. "He doesn't really have
any big weaknesses."
