Federer trounces Safin to win Australian Open

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, February 02, 2004

Federer trounces Safin to win Australian Open

Swiss Roger Federer defeated MaratSafin of Russia to claim a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-2 triumph in the men's singles final of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne on Sunday.

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Swiss Roger Federer defeated MaratSafin of Russia to claim a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 6-2 triumph in the men's singles final of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne on Sunday.

Federer needed two hours, 15 minutes to earn the second Grand Slam title of his career, adding the Melbourne Park honors to the trophy he lifted last summer at Wimbledon.

The win also helped to consolidate his status as the world's number one player.

"What a great start to the year for me, to win the Australian Open and become number 1 in the world," Federer said. "To fulfillmy dreams, it really means very much to me."

Safin said he was too exausted after a tough road to the final to pose serious threat after losing the first set.

"I'm really sorry, I just ran out of gas today," said Safin, who tied a Grand Slam record by playing 30 sets and stayed in the court for 21 hours -- compared Federer's 13.

The 22-year-old Federer clinched the top spot in the rankings with a semi-final victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain.

Federer, 4-1 against Safin, had 40 winners and 28 unforced errors, and Safin had 19 winners and 41 unforced errors.

The second-seeded Swiss easily rolled the dangerous Russian player, who has slipped to 86th in the world's rankings after missing action for eight months because of a wrist injury.

Federer took the opener in a tiebreaker, winning the first of three set points with a return which skipped off the top of the netcord and landed good well out of Safin's reach in an opener lasting five minutes short of an hour.

Federer put up a flawless show in the next two sets, leaving the Russian to have no chance.

Source: Xinhua

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