Federer to meet Philippoussis in men's final

Roger Federer is through to his first ever Grand Slam final after beating Andy Roddick in spectacular fashion today.

Roger Federer is through to his first ever Grand Slam final after beating Andy Roddick in spectacular fashion today.

The 'Fed Express' looked utterly imperious on Centre Court as he put on a grass court masterclass, eventually prevailing 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 6-3.

Federer edged a tight tie-break 8-6 to seize the initiative, and looked just awesome in the next as he won it 6-3 on Centre Court.

The Swiss fourth seed had the upper-hand against below-par Roddick throughout the first set but ultimately had to save a set point of his own before earning his advantage.

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Federer, who like Roddick had dropped just one set throughout the entire tournament, outdid the big-hitting young American by eight aces to two and commanded the net well.

He failed to take advantage of the set's solitary break point in the third game when he produced a forehand mistake.

But he held his own serve comfortably until the tie-break, where Roddick would have taken the set had he not flopped a feeble forehand volley into the net.

Federer, bidding to reach the final against unseeded Australian Mark Philippoussis, rode his luck to clinch the early advantage on his first set point.

Federer had to save his first two break points in the first game of the second set but recovered with his ninth and 10th aces to maintain his momentum.

Then the Swiss star continued to punish the serve which had helped Roddick breeze through to the semi-final stage with such aplomb.

He missed two break point opportunities in the second game of the set but took his third chance with a superb cross-court forehand.

Federer's tactics had put him firmly in the ascendency with the young American failing to find a game-plan to combat his opponent's aggressive style.

Federer was playing simply awesome tennis and he served out brilliantly to take the set 6-3 and increase his advantage.

Federer continued his near-perfect game into the third set and suffocated Roddick's power game.

The pressure was getting to the American who sent a feeble forehand into the net in the fifth game to hand his opponent the crucial break.

Federer was giving Roddick no chance whatsoever on his own serve and a succession of blistering passing shots brought up his first match points on the Roddick serve at 5-3.

Roddick summoned up big serves to save the first two but a wide forehand completed Federer's 7-6 6-3 6-3 rout in one hour and 43 minutes.