Tennis Australian Open: Roger Federer takes on Marat Safin tomorrow in what promises to be a truly special Australian Open final. By beating Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 yesterday in the second semi-final Federer both clinched the right to meet the Russian and took over from Andy Roddick as the world number one.
So the battle lines were drawn: Federer's supreme all-court game, the classic amalgam of power and silky touch, against Safin's mighty serve and coruscating ground strokes, notably the double-fisted backhand.
Yesterday, though, was about Federer's passage to the final and his ascension to the top of the men's rankings. He had missed the opportunity of becoming world number one last year when losing to Roddick in Montreal. "I was shaking all over then," said Federer, who rarely displays much emotion while playing.
Having previously played down the significance of being number one, Federer admitted he had been determined to enjoy the moment: "You only become number one in the world for the first time once." By doing so he became the 23rd player to attain the pinnacle since the modern rankings began in 1973.
Safin reached this summit briefly in 2000 and should have added the Australian Open title to his US crown two years later when he unaccountably lost the final against Thomas Johansson.
Last year his career fell about his ears; a wrist injury saw him miss three grand slam events, and there were many prepared to believe the wayward Russian, whose taste for the good life is acute, had made his pile and might not be able to remotivate himself. They were wrong.
Last month, having finally sorted out his wrist in a Los Angeles clinic, he buckled down to training in Monte Carlo.
Much of his regime was based on that used by Sebastian Coe, although here the Russian has looked more like a marathon runner, with three five-set matches lasting over three hours, including memorable victories over Roddick in the quarter-final and Agassi, defending champion.
"Marat is a great guy and we are all happy to see him back, but scared at the same time," said Federer. Small wonder. If he has gas left in his tank, then Safin could knock Federer out of his elegant stride. In the opening set yesterday Ferrero was hitting the ball harder than the Swiss and serving - a foretaste of what Safin might achieve. But the Spaniard, suffering pain in both thighs, could not keep up the pressure.
"Physically I don't know how Marat will be but after being out for so long with injury he's very motivated," said Ferrero.
On this occasion it may not be quite enough. Federer grew into a champion's clothes after Wimbledon, going on to win the end-of-season Masters Cup, where he beat Roddick, Agassi (twice) and Ferrero. Tomorrow he will parade the garments of the world number one and the concomitant self-belief.
Guardian Service
Men's Singles
Semi-finals - (2) R Federer (Swi) bt (3) JC Ferrero (Spa) 6-4 6-1 6-4.
Women's Doubles
Final - (1) VR Pascual (Spa) & P Suarez (Arg) bt (4) S Kuznetsova (Rus) & E Likhovtseva (Rus) 6-4 6-3.
Mixed Doubles
Semi-finals - N Zimonjic (Ser) & E Bovina (Rus) bt M Rodriguez (Arg) & R Grande (Ita) 6-3 7-6 (8-6), (4) L Paes (Ind) & M Navratilova (USA) bt J Erlich (Isr) & L Huber (Rsa) 6-4 6-4.
