Federer annihilates Roddick to reach final

MELBOURNE - Top seed Roger Federer put on a virtuoso display to blow away Andy Roddick 6-4 6-0 6-2 and reach the Australian Open final on Thursday.

The Swiss defending champion unleashed an unstoppable barrage of winners to shatter the American sixth seed and book a place in a record-equalling seventh consecutive grand slam final.

Federer won a tight first set after breaking in the ninth game and served out to win it with his sixth ace, but the world number then put on an awesome exhibition to destroy a shell-shocked Roddick in 83 minutes Federer will play the winner of Friday's semi-final between Chilean 10th seed Fernando Gonzalez and Germany's Tommy Haas, the 12th seed, in the final.

- REUTERS