Australian Open: The only surprise on the night that Roger Federer sent Andre Agassi, the four times Australian Open champion, stumbling a little closer to retirement was that he refused to give an interview to the Japanese television station, Wowow.
The world number one is renowned for rarely turning down media requests. Maybe he felt he had served up enough wow for one night.
If his 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 quarter-final against the veteran American failed to reach the hoped-for heights, it was simply that Federer was too good, and that Agassi, after losing the first set, seemed to lack the belief he could turn matters around. And whenever a small opening in the doorway appeared, Federer promptly slammed it shut with an ace before Agassi could get a foot in.
The next man to try to halt the "Fed" express will be Marat Safin, in a repeat of last year's final that the Swiss won in straight sets. The Russian has been the beaten finalist here twice, and has been in impressive and disciplined form over the last nine days.
Last year, having beaten Andy Roddick and Agassi in the quarter and semi-finals respectively, both over five sets, he was physically frayed and mentally drained by the time he came to play Federer.
This time he will be altogether fresher, although Federer has hardly had to bust a gut to get to tomorrow's semi-finals either. Furthermore, he holds a 6-1 career advantage over Safin. The last time they met was in the semi-final of the Tennis Masters Cup in Houston last November when Federer won 6-3, 7-6, including an 18-16 tie-break.
"Everybody basically knows how to play Roger but still nobody can get close," said Safin who reached the last four with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 quarter-final victory over Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia - a match played with the Rod Laver Arena roof closed because of the scorching temperature.
"You have to be as confident as you can, and not be scared of anything. In Houston, for the first time, I felt I could beat Roger, and that I can give him trouble."
Agassi felt he could, too, but he was left clutching fool's gold. His concerted attack on Federer's backhand was relentless, but Federer served so well - including 22 aces - that Agassi was never able get into the match on his own terms. For him it must have felt like Pete Sampras revisited.
"San Jose, Dubai, Palm Springs, Key Biscayne" - Agassi reeled off his forthcoming schedule afterwards, but with no great enthusiasm.
This defeat will see him drop to the bottom rung of the top 10 and, with his 35th birthday approaching in April, it may not be long before the holder of eight grand slam titles joins his wife, Steffi Graf, in retirement. In past years, after leaving Australia, he has felt he could return and be competitive. This defeat may persuade him otherwise.
The crowd tried to lift him but after a monumental ninth game, when he had three chances to break the Federer serve, the heart went out of his game. Twice, at the beginning of the second and third sets, Agassi dropped his own serve, which was suicide. "I wanted tonight to be memorable but it's one I'd probably prefer to forget," he said.
This win extended Federer's unbeaten run to 26 matches, while he has now also won his last 24 matches against top-10 players.
"He plays the game beautifully," said Agassi. " He does everything well, with his movement the most under-rated part of his game."
If the more flamboyant of Federer's shots were missing it was because he could not afford to take risks against Agassi, who may be a little slower but still packs a hefty counter-punch. Federer restricted his shot selection accordingly. If he was a little restrained it reflected the respect he had for Agassi, and the under-current of tension.
Once the match was won Federer released a huge cry of "Yes!" into the night skies. It may have been easier than he had expected, but the relief was nevertheless palpable.
Meanwhile, Tim Henman is donating his prize money from the Australian Open to help the victims of the Asian tsunami. Henman was beaten in the third round by Russia's Nikolay Davydenko, earning $46,000 (Australian).
MEN'S SINGLES: Quarter-finals: (1) Roger Federer (Swi) bt (8) Andre Agassi (USA) 6-3 6-4 6-4; (4) Marat Safin (Rus) bt (20) Dominik Hrbaty (Svk) 6-2 6-4 6-2
WOMEN'S SINGLES: Quarter-finals: (4) Maria Sharapova (Rus) bt (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) 4-6 6-2 6-2; (7) Serena Williams (USA) bt (2) Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) 6-2 6-2.
WOMEN'S DOUBLES: Quarter-finals: (6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) and Alicia Molik (Aus) bt Daniela Hantuchova (Svk) and Martina Navratilova (USA) 6-3 6-0; (7) Anastasia Myskina (Rus) and Vera Zvonareva (Rus) bt (16) Eleni Daniilidou (Gre) and Nicole Pratt (Aus) 6-4 6-3; Gabriela Navratilova (Cze) and Michaela Pastikova (Cze) bt Jennifer Russell (USA) and Mara Santangelo (Ita) 6-2 6-3; (15) Lindsay Davenport (USA) and Corina Morariu (USA) bt Anabel Medina Garrigues (Spa) and Dinara Safina (Rus) 6-1 3-6 6-1.
MEN'S DOUBLES: Quarter-finals: Jurgen Melzer (Aut) and Alexander Waske (Ger) bt Tomas Berdych (Cze) and Andrei Pavel (Rom) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-8); (2) Bob Bryan (USA) and Michael Bryan (USA) bt James Blake (USA) and Mardy Fish (USA) 6-4 6-4.
MIXED DOUBLES: Round two: Scott Draper (Aus) and Samantha Stosur (Aus) bt (6) Nenad Zimonjic (Ser) and Elena Likhovtseva (Rus) 6-3 6-4; (1) Daniel Nestor (Can) and Rennae Stubbs (Aus) bt Mariano Hood (Arg) and Maria Vento-Kabchi (Ven) 6-2 6-3; Andy Ram (Isr) and Conchita Martinez (Spa) bt (8) Leos Friedl (Cze) and Janette Husarova (Svk) 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 7-6 (10-6).
