Federer fuels debate over best player

Andy Roddick ended the season ranked world No 1, but the Wimbledon champion, Roger Federer, capped a fantastic tournament and year with a truly spectacular performance, dominating Andre Agassi 6–3, 6–0, 6–4 on Sunday to win the season–ending Tennis Masters Cup for his tour–high seventh title of 2003.

Consider this a warning, Roger Federer and his coach figure the Wimbledon champion can get better. It sure doesn't seem as if there's a whole lot of room for improvement. Even Agassi was moved to call Federer's play "an inspiration" and "as good as it gets."

"He's very explosive. He has great hands. Great hand speed, great feel. Great movement. An all–court game," Agassi said. "He can play from the back and beat the best, and he can play serve–and–volley and take certain kinds of players out of the equation just by coming forward."

What else is there?

Federer displayed all of that and more during a week in which he earned $1,520,000 and moved up to No 2 in the rankings, behind Roddick. Federer went 5–0 and won 11 of 12 sets against an elite field, with wins against the other reigning major champions: Agassi (Australian Open), Roddick (US Open) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (French Open).

"I really overachieved," Federer said. "I've worked very hard this year, and it really paid off."

He's only 22, a year older than Roddick, and theirs could become a classic rivalry – trading Grand Slam titles, dueling for the top of the rankings – along the lines of John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg, or Pete Sampras vs. Agassi.

Roddick has the fastest serve in tennis and one of the best forehands around. Federer's superb serve relies more on placement than pace, and he just doesn't appear to have any holes in his game.

Roddick finishes the season at No 1, but Federer won one more title and six more matches, a tour–leading 78. Federer also owns a 5–1 head–to–head edge against Roddick.

"Andy deserves his No 1 spot. He should walk away from here and feel the best. I would feel the same way if I were No 1," Federer said. "Maybe I feel the best this week, because I really have played unbelievable tennis. And I'll try to achieve next year what he achieved this year."

The Swiss star's versatility is impressive. He won tournaments on clay, grass, hard courts and indoors, and his only really disappointing showing was a first–round exit at the French Open – where Roddick also lost his first match.

Federer "has a good chance, if plays well at the beginning of the year, to get to No 1," said his coach, Peter Lundgren. "He can still be stronger. He can work on his serve. His volley can get better. If you look at his whole game, he can improve."

It didn't look that way on Sunday. Federer put together a 39–13 edge in winners and had 11 aces. He broke Agassi five times and never faced a break point against one of the greatest returners in history. Federer covered the court so well, Agassi didn't have a backhand winner until the third set.

Repeatedly, Federer would drive a ground stroke to a corner, forcing Agassi wide, and then deposit his next shot into the open court for a clean winner.

At 33, Agassi was the event's oldest finalist since 1978, and was attempting to be its oldest champion. He also was hoping to set the mark for longest gap between titles at the tour championship, having won it in 1990.

That didn't happen, but Agassi did prove once again that he has plenty of good tennis in him, moving up one place to No. 4 in the rankings.

"It's been a hard week for me. It's been a lot of tennis after a two–month break," said Agassi, who took time off after the US Open because his wife, Steffi Graf, gave birth to their second child. "If there's an edge off my game, there's no chance out there. That's how it felt."