Federer Caps Year with Masters Cup Title
Champion: Roger Federer. Roger Federer blitzed Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 in a ruthless victory in the Tennis Masters Cup Houston 2003 final. Federer charged to the title by winning all his five matches and for the loss of just one set (against Agassi in his first match, when he saved two match points). After his first round-robin match Federer dropped serve just once.
Federer's win gave him an ATP-best seventh title of the season. It also elevated him to No. 2 in the final ATP Champions Race standings. The Wimbledon champion also topped the ATP match wins table with a 78-17 win-loss record on the year.
Federer said: "It's one of the best matches of my life. The Masters and Wimbledon are my two favorite tournaments, so I'm very happy."
Federer, who last year went undefeated in round-robin play in Shanghai before losing a tough semifinal to Lleyton Hewitt, is the first Swiss winner of a year-end championship. He is now 8-1 lifetime at the event.
The Swiss becomes the fifth undefeated champion at the year-end event since 1986 when the tournament re-introduced the round-robin format. Agassi was attempting to become the oldest year-end championship winner.
Federer raced to a 6-3, 2-0 lead after just 33 minutes before a 2 hr., 38 min. rain delay forced players from the court. Federer returned to win the next four games to close out the set to love. It was the first time in 55 tournaments dating back to 2000 Roland Garros (l to Kucera in R2) that Agassi had been ‘bageled.'
The win was Federer's first title on American soil and fourth hard court title of the year. He has now won 11 career titles.
At 33 years 6 months, Agassi was the oldest finalist in a year-end event since Arthur Ashe reached the final of the 1978 Masters in New York at the age of 35 years, 6 months.
He was hoping to win just his second title at an end-of-year event, and his first for 13 years. He won the 1990 ATP Tour World Championship in Frankfurt, defeating Stefan Edberg in four sets in the final. Agassi finished the year with a 47-10 record from 13 tournaments.
Federer said: "I'm very happy how this whole year went, especially this tournament. What a great finish, you know. Really overachieved everything I set for myself. Seven titles, four on different surfaces (three different surfaces, one indoor), my first Grand Slam, No. 2 in the world. It's really been an unbelievable year for me; I'm very happy.”
Agassi said: “He's doing everything great. He's a great mover, great striker of the ball off both sides. He's a factor from the back of the court, when he comes to the net. His serve is very effective. He knows the game real well, knows court position. As good as it gets out there.”
Bryans Clinch ATP Doubles Race Trophy & Masters Cup Title
ATP Doubles Race winners Bob and Mike Bryan capped their dream season with a five-set win over Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro in the Tennis Masters Cup Doubles final. The Californian twins won 67(6) 63 36 76(3) 64 in 3 hrs., 10 mins.
The Bryans won all five matches they contested during the tournament, but saved four match points against Martin Damm and Cyril Suk in their first round robin match and two match points against Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge in their final round robin match. Had they lost that match, the Bryans would have been eliminated from the tournament.
The Bryans claimed their fifth title of the season and their 14th career team title. They are the first all-American team to finish the year No. 1 since Rick leach and Jim Pugh in 1989.
Bob Bryan said: "Well, this one's just so sweet because it's the end of the year. You know, we finished No. 1. And this just kind of puts a cap, you know, proves to everyone that we were the No. 1 team this year. The best eight teams in the world were here. I think the players on the tour have the most respect for a team that can go in here and win with the best eight teams… Now we can really just go party it up, have fun, enjoy our new house. It's a perfect ending to a great year."
Mike Bryan said: “It's really hard to dominate in doubles. I mean, when we walk out there, every team's tough. It's almost a coin flip. You get broken once in a match and that could be it. I think we're just more consistent 'cause we worked on our weaknesses. Bob's worked on his return, I worked on my serve. This is our fifth year on the tour. We've gotten progressively better every year. Went from 60 to Top 20 to Top 10. Now we're No. 1.”
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