Thursday, January 29, 2009

Federer thumps Roddick to reach Aussie Open final; seeks 14th Grand Slam title

On Thursday night at the Australian Open in Melbourne, second-seeded Roger Federer (pictured) put together another dominating performance by ousting seventh-seeded American Andy Roddick, 6-2, 7-5, 7-5, in two hours and seven minutes. By reaching his fourth career Australian Open final, Federer is within one victory of equaling Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles.

Having won their previous meeting at the Masters Series Miami last year in three sets, Roddick was determined to give it all he had. However, in the third game of the opening set things already started going Federer’s way as the Swiss struck first by breaking the American’s serve with a forehand passing shot. Roddick had a break point opportunity in the next game but the 27-year-old Swiss saved break point with a brilliant forehand passing
shot and would eventually win the game. The 13-time Grand Slam singles champion would never look back. The former World No. 1 clinched the opening set in 32-minutes when the American missed a backhand service return.

“I served well in the first set and that gave me a lot of confidence,” Federer said.

Things looked like they were slipping away from Roddick after falling behind two break points on his opening service game of the second set, but he quickly recovered to hold serve. At 5-5, Federer broke Roddick at love and would hold his serve at love to take the 43-minute second set in convincing fashion. In the second set, Federer only hit one unforced error.

In a close third set that highlighted Federer’s brilliant tennis game and mind, Roddick showed his frustration at 2-2 when he was called for a audible obscenity by chair umpire Eric Molina when he needed to fight off two break point opportunities. Despite holding serve at love on five occasions throughout the match and saving three break points in the 11th game of the third set, Roddick couldn’t save another when Federer ripped a forehand cross court. Federer smoothly held serve at 6-5 to capture his ninth win of the season and reach his 18th career Grand Slam singles final.

“I do feel better mentally (than last year). I'm obviously healthy so I can focus on playing well. I'm really pleased about my performance so far in the tournament. The draw was difficult and dangerous if you look back on who I had to play,” said Federer. “I'd like to play Fernando because he's never played a Grand Slam final before. “I have an edge there. Playing Rafa is obviously more exciting because of the history we have playing in so many Grand Slam finals.”

En route to his 16th victory in 18 meetings against Roddick, Federer smashed 16 aces and no double faults compared to eight aces and two double faults by the American. The World No. 2 smashed 51 winners, won 83 percent of first serve points, won 63 percent of net approaches and broke serve on four occasions throughout the match. Attempting to win his fourth Australian Open, Federer is hoping to join Andre Agassi, Ken Rosewall and Jack Crawford as the only men to win four titles at the year’s first Grand Slam. Having spent 12 hours and 35 minutes on court through six matches, Federer would move into a second place tie with Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi with 48 victories in Melbourne since 1968 if he wins the championship on Sunday.

Federer now awaits the winner of No. 1 Rafael Nadal or No. 14 Fernando Verdasco, who will clash in an all-Spanish semifinal tonight on Rod Laver Arena. Nadal owns a 6-0 series edge against Verdasco, with the top-ranked Spaniard losing only two sets total in all six encounters.

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