Tennis: Federer flattens Agassi to reach final

DUBAI - Roger Federer has claimed a stunning 6-3 6-1 victory over a traumatised Andre Agassi to reach the final of the Dubai Open.

Having failed to show his best form throughout the week, including during his 6-3 7-5 quarter-final victory over Mikhail Youzhny earlier in the day, the Swiss world number one was virtually unplayable in the second set, tying up the match in just 51 minutes.

Hitting winners almost at will, he surpassed even his own high standards to break for a 3-0 lead in the second set, running back and then hitting a lob that landed right on the baseline to leave even Federer shaking his head in wonder.

That second break of the set signalled the end for Agassi.

In a highly entertaining match which emphasised placement rather than power, it was Agassi who made the steadier start, holding a break point at 1-1 that was saved by Federer with a service winner.

Federer then reduced his errors and games went comfortably with serve until 4-3, when Federer broke Agassi to love and took the opening set by winning 12 of the last 13 points.

Agassi found his back against the wall as Federer continued his momentum into the second set, dropping his serve when Federer hit a winning pass on his second break point after Agassi had saved the first with a second serve ace.

After Federer had earned a further break to lead 3-0 Agassi moved into containment mode, but had no chance of turning the match around. Finally, he ended his frustrated challenge with a whimper, dropping the final game to love and finishing with a double-fault.

Federer, the twice defending champion, will play eighth seed Ivan Ljubicic in the final, after the Croatian defeated fifth seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-4 6-3.

It was the 20th victory of the year for Ljubicic, who has now reached four finals this year, and a remarkable three finals in the last three weeks.

The 25-year-old Croatian was previously beaten by Federer in both Doha and last week in Rotterdam after leading the final set tiebreak 4-2, with his other loss coming against Joachim Johansson in Marseille.

A serve that produced 13 aces as well as some stylish groundstrokes gave Ljubicic the advantage against Robredo, who failed to take the few opportunities he had in the closely-contested 80 minute battle.

Games went easily with serve until Ljubicic led 4-3, and after both players had failed to convert break points in the next two games a wild backhand from Robredo and then a winning return gave Ljubicic the only break of the set.

The more consistent Ljubicic maintained his advantage in the second set, failing to win two break points for a 2-0 lead but then breaking to lead 5-3 when Robredo made a backhand error.

- REUTERS