Roger Federer needed little more than an hour to beat Andy Roddick and claim top spot in the Red Group at the Tennis Masters Cup.
World number one claims top spot after coasting past Roddick
Roger Federer needed little more than an hour to cruise past Andy Roddick and secure top spot in the Red Group at the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.
With any pressure having been lifted by Nikolay Davydenko's win over Fernando Gonzalez earlier in the day that secured his place in the final four, the world number was at his effortless best as he dismantled Roddick in straight sets.
He disposed of the American in clinical fashion, with a scoreline 6-4 6-2 scarcely doing justice to his supremacy.
The writing was on the wall for Roddick as early as the fourth game with Federer claiming the opening break of the match to take charge.
Roddick battled manfully to stay in touch but could make no inroads into his opponent's serve with Federer mixing some sorching winners with trademark touch at the net.
The American survived a break point at 5-3 down to prolong the first set, but it proved a temporary reprieve with Federer serving out with ease to move a set ahead.
He then all but killed the contest as he reeled off the first four games of the second set, Roddick wilting after another sizzling backhand pass had secured the initial break.
He did avoid the humiliation of a second set whitewash as he won a couple of service games, but Federer served out for victory with the minimum of fuss at the first time of asking.
In doing so he extended his remarkable record against the American to 15-1 and looks to have rediscovered something like his best form after recent losses to David Nalbandian and Fernando Gonzalez.
With both Roddick and Federer having already qualified ahead of the match, the only issue to be resolved was who finished top of the group and the latter's emphatic triumph ensured he did so.
The Swiss now faces David Ferrer in Saturday's semi-finals, with Roddick taking on another Spaniard - world number two Rafael Nadal.
Both matches will be televised live on
Sky Sports 3 from 9am
