On this day: Roger Federer sinks Andre Agassi in 52 minutes to reach Dubai final

Four days after they played at the Burj Ar Arab hotel helipad, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi met in the Dubai 2005 semi-final, facing each other for the ninth time. The American defeated the young Swiss in the first three encounters before Federer took charge, scoring his sixth straight victory over Agassi on February 26. Roger stayed on the court for only 52 minutes in a 6-3, 6-1 triumph that propelled him into the third consecutive Dubai final. Federer arrived in Dubai after the Rotterdam title, struggling to adapt to the different conditions and beating Ivo Minar and Juan Carlos Ferrero in the deciding set tie break, saving two match points against the Spaniard. The Swiss played better against Mikhail Youzhny in the quarters and found the perfect rhythm against the American veteran a day later, losing 15 points in eight service games and fending off all three break chances to mount the pressure on the other side.

Agassi was far from those numbers, giving away half of his games' points and suffering four breaks to propel Roger into the title match in no time. The Swiss had around 20 winners and forced a similar number of mistakes from the American. Agassi barely hit any winner, unable to find an open space and staying far behind in the shortest and mid-range exchanges.

Roger Federer defeated Andre Agassi in under an hour in Dubai 2005.

Federer held in the opening game with a forehand down the line winner before Agassi produced an excellent opening service game at love to level the score at 1-1. He even created a break chance in the third game following a loose forehand from Federer, who saved it with a booming serve to avoid an early setback. Andre was there to fight in the opening six games, delivering another fine hold to level the score at 3-3 before taking only one of the next ten games by the end of the encounter!

Roger held at love to move 4-3 up and grabbed a break at love with a backhand down the line winner a few minutes later, securing the opener with a forehand winner in game nine for 6-3. A forehand down the line winner clinched an early break for the defending champion in set number two to push him further ahead. Federer repelled two break chances in the second game to confirm the advantage and earned another break in game three after a lob winner behind the back from an incredible position, landing one of the shots of the season. Marching towards the finish line, Federer held at 15 in game four with a well-constructed attack and landed a service winner that sent him 5-1 in front. The Swiss sealed the deal with a break at love a few minutes later following Agassi's double fault and raced over the top for another Dubai final.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3pYHkR4