Roger Federer was at his very best as he slammed his way through to his 18th grand slam final with a straight sets victory over Andy Roddick in the Australia Open in Melbourne.
The world number two had too much power for the seventh seed Roddick, taking only two hours 17 minutes to defeat the American 6-2 7-5 7-5 and book a place in the final against top seed Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco.
The victory means Federer is now only one away from Ivan Lendl all-time record 19 grand slam final appearances.
Ivan Lendl reached 19 grand slam finals
“It’s great to be playing here – it’s fun out there,” said a delighted Federer the official website of the tournament. “If I can break records, too, then that’s great.”
Roddick has beaten Federer in two of their previous 17 meetings – the most recent success came last year in Miami – and seemed never to repeat that in a match played in Rod Laver Arena roof following a fall temperature to stop the extreme heat policy procedures.
A Roddick tried to move everything from bullet shots as drop-serves to find a way through the armory Federer. Although there were times when the three times Open champion from Australia could only stand and watch go for aces or send back a drop shot on the network, much of which had an answer for everything Roddick could send his way.
The second seed took the lead for the first time in the third game of the opening set when he arrived in a good position for Roddick volley and fired a line for the winner again last incredulous opponent.
Roddick had break point opportunities in the next game, but not to take him and pay dearly in the fifth when he broke Federer again and comfortably held serve for a 5-1 lead.
Federer found the net twice in the next game to help maintain service Roddick, but not stop taking the first set Federer. The Swiss, chasing a record 14th title in the same grand slam, had a nervous few moments that took place outside two points before a comprehensive response gave Roddick the game and the game.
The second set was much closer to a breaking point very few chances. But just when it seemed headed for a tie-break, Roddick broke in the 11th game when he had a failed attempt at a volley after Federer hit a blistering winner on the line after apparently in search of the question before American found the net again. Federer held his serve to love to complete the second round.
It was almost an exact repetition in the third set, but Federer was able to break clear in the fifth game. Roddick received a code violation for swearing, but it produced an audacious reverse slices on their way to help the conclusion of their service.
The break came in the 11th game and Federer served for the match that sealed the win with one line