Flawless Federer to face Nalbandian in Shanghai showdown

By Bill Scott Nov 19, 2005, 14:18 GMT

Roger Federer of Switzerland serves one of several aces against Gaston Gaudio of Argentina during their semi-finals match at the Shanghai Masters Cup, Saturday 19 November 2005. Federer scored the first 6-0 6-0 victory in the history of the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup on Saturday as he pulverised Gaudio to move within one win of a third straight Masters crown. EPA/Diego Azubel

Shanghai - Roger Federer lined up a battle with David Nalbandian for the title at the 4.45-million-dollar Masters Cup Saturday night with an historic 6-0, 6-0 thrashing of Gaston Gaudio.

The Swiss standout clocked the first 'double bagel' in the 35-year history of the year-end championships while earning the first of his own brilliant career.

The world number 1 with a 35-match win streak on the line will play a best-of-five-set matchup against Argentine Nalbandian, who put out Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-0, 7-5 in their semi-final.

'It was great,' said Federer of his victory in 50 minutes. 'I didn't lose any energy. I definitely played better than the last couple of matches.

'I was looking for a very consistent, solid match, no lapses like I've had in the last couple of matches. It couldn't have been any more perfect today.

'It gives me great confidence for tomorrow, that's for sure.'

Federer, coming to Shanghai after a month away with an ankle injury, had his troubles in a defeat of Nalbandian in group play at the start of the week.

But the holder of 11 titles this season has characteristically worked any kinks out of his game.

'It was great,' said Federer. 'I didn't lose any energy. I definitely played better than the last couple of matches.

'I was looking for a very consistent, solid match, no lapses like I've had in the last couple of matches. It couldn't have been any more perfect today.

'It gives me great confidence for tomorrow, that's for sure.'

He will be bidding for a third consecutive title at a season wrapup after winning Houston the last two years.

Only Ilie Nastase in 1971-1973 and Ivan Lendl in 1985-1987 have won three in a row at the season-wrapup.

Gaudio, a friend of Federer off-court, knew he was comprehensively stomped: 'No excuses,' said the 2004 Roland Garros champion.

'That was maybe the worst match I've played. I want to apologise to the crowd because I couldn't do anything.'

With his 81st victory of the season - he has lost only three times in 2005 - Federer joins Austrian Thomas Muster on 35 straight, the fifth-longest win streak in the game.

The silky-smooth Swiss world number 1 spent just 50 minutes as he administered a master class to the outclassed Argentine, last year's Roland Garros champion.

Gaudio's form fell into a black hole of despair against the near-effortless Federer onslaught.

The South American produced nine double-faults and 22 unforced errors. Federer had 22 winners and broke on six of ten occasions.

'I was playing against a guy who is the best in history in a surface where he is so much better than me,' said Gaudio, winner of five clay titles this season. 'There's not much to say.

'Sometimes, once in a life it (0-0) happens, and it happens to me today. I'm sad about it, I'm so disappointed.

'But what can I do? There are things a little bit worse than this sometimes in life.'

Federer now stands just a match win away from tying John McEnroe's Open Era record for best match winning percentage in a season. McEnroe had a .965 mark (82-3) in 1984.

Since losing to Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros semi-finals more than five months ago, Federer has been untouchable.

'It's going to be tough rallies,' he said of the Sunday final. 'I've been struggling a little bit with my fitness this week.

'Now that I've only one match left, after this is nothing for a month, I am more confident now than I was still a few days ago.'

A Federer victory would level his career records against Nalbandian at five wins each.