Fedex delivers 145;perfect146; game

Roger Federer said he played the perfect match in his 6-3 6-4 6-4 thrashing of Andre Agassi at the Australian Open on Tuesday. He broke Agas...

Roger Federer said he played the perfect match in his 6-3 6-4 6-4 thrashing of Andre Agassi at the Australian Open on Tuesday. He broke Agassi8217;s serve once in each set and, despite having to fend off break points on his own serve, won virtually every key point to seal a surprisingly one-sided victory.

8216;8216;For me it was a perfect match8217;8217;, Federer said. 8216;8216;Everybody knows how quickly matches can turn around and for this reason I was happy to win the first set. That kind of gave me just a little bit of cushion.8217;8217;

The Swiss top seed lived up to his billing as the world8217;s best player, dominating the American with his impenetrable serve and winning virtually every key point in a nerveless performance.

Federer credited Agassi for his performance, saying the American had brought out the best in him. 8216;8216;I really had to concentrate very hard today, which didn8217;t really allow me to enjoy the match too much8217;8217;, Federer said. 8216;8216;He8217;s one of the best returners of all time. You just miss a couple of first serves and he really hits it hard down the baseline.8217;8217;

Agassi, a four-times winner of the Australian Open, conceded that Federer had been too good for him. 8216;8216;He plays the game beautifully. The expectation for him to be one of the greats is certainly understandable8217;8217;, Agassi said.

Federer extended his winning streak to 26 matches with a dazzling array of stinging winners from the baseline, crisp volleys and 22 aces that often left the quick Agassi flat-footed.

Agassi 34, who came into the season-opening grand slam in perhaps the best shape of his life to be ready for matches like this, survived a record 51 aces in his fourth-round victory over Joachim Johansson by exploiting the few chances he got. But one of the game8217;s best counter-punchers never could find a real weakness to exploit against Federer8217;s all-around game.

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With both players painting the lines and punishing ordinary shots, Federer broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set when Agassi, trying to put a little extra on a second serve, double-faulted.

Then, as he did again and again while winning three Grand Slam events last year, Federer found an extra gear when he needed it. The Swiss star saved four break points 8212; two with aces 8212; while serving for the set in a game that went to deuce six times. A third ace gave Federer his third set point, and he turned a good service return from Agassi into a backhand winner down the line.