2005 NASDAQ-100 Open News
By Alix Ramsay  |  March 31, 2005

Both men came through their quarter final rounds with the minimum of fuss, Federer sploshing Tim Henman 6-4, 6-2 and Agassi demolishing Taylor Dent 7-5, 6-0. Once the first set was done in both matches, neither winner had to raise a sweat to claim their place in the last four.

From the moment Federer broke Henman to take a 3-2 lead, the result was never in doubt. Those who backed Henman had hoped that a chipper and confident Brit taking on a clearly out of sorts Swiss would stand a chance. Those who had watched Federer wallop Henman on the three previous occasions knew that the world No.1 would simply raise his game and crush Tiger Tim. Henman, for all his positive fighting talk, knew it, too.

"This is not routine to keep winning like this," Federer said. "I look back to when I won my first Tennis Masters Cup in 2003 and I beat Agassi and Nalbandian - two guys I had never beaten before. Somehow I came out of there with unbelievable confidence. Now I look at the draw and I'm really not scared of anybody any more. It's a good way to be."

Federer has not been himself this week. Ever since the match schedulers put him down for a couple of night sessions, forcing him to play in the cooler, slower conditions, his timing has been out of kilter. Finally allowed back on court during the heat of the day, Federer perked up, found the sweet spot again and took the greatest delight in marmelising Henman.

"I think you're only allowed to play to a certain level because of the standard that he's playing so consistently," Henman said. "You know, there were parts where I felt pretty comfortable but it only takes your level to drop for a point or two points and that can be a break of serve. And he just keeps rolling from there."

Agassi is more than aware of Federer's strengths. They have met nine times with Federer coming out on top on six occasions. Agassi has not won one of their show downs since 2002 when they met in the final here. For all that is a happy memory for the old showman, it will not help him much today.

"Seeing his form over the last year and a half, I'd say I'd have to be doing a lot of things well, no question about it," Agassi said. "I'll have to be working my serve well, returning well, picking my shots, executing them. But, you know, I don't go out there really with any other expectation anymore at all against anybody. So I'll have to really step it up tomorrow, that's for sure.

"The two things that he obviously does better than arguably anybody in the world is his movement and his forehand. They're both big factors. So you have to know when to take your chance and not hesitate, and that's the way it is with all the guys. Except with him, it's what you consider your chance. Certain guys you get a lot of looks. With him, you don't get many. So you have to recognize whatever does seem like a chance and be willing to execute it. I mean, you've got to play a good match unless he's not playing his best tennis."

Venus Williams probably thought that she had as good a chance as anybody of reaching the final. She had just beaten her sister, Serena - the only woman who has consistently beaten her over the past three years - and she was feeling fitter than she had in ages.

Unfortunately she ran slap bang into Maria Sharapova who ended her comeback hopes, crushing the No.8 seed 6-4, 6-3.

After Venus had beaten Serena two days ago, she was on top of the world. She had announced her return to the top and suddenly she thought she was ready to compete with the best. But Venus had not accounted for Sharapova.

While neither of the Williams sisters lacks self confidence - and with 11 grand slam titles between them, why should they? - they are positively shy and retiring when compared to Russia's latest export. Having beaten Serena in the final to win both Wimbledon and the WTA Tour Championships, she had no fear of taking on the older and less successful sister in Florida.

With not a cigarette paper between them for the first half an hour, Sharapova finally got her chance as Williams tensed up serving tostay in the first set. Over the course of the next 10 minutes, Sharapova booked her ticket to the final, breaking Williams again and rushing to a 3-0 lead in the second set.

It was not a match for those of a sensitive disposition. Both women were belting the ball for all they were worth, Sharapova shrieking on every shot and Williams screaming with the effort of every stroke.

Playing to the Williams's notoriously fragile forehand, Sharapova grabbed the match by the throat and refused to let go. "I'm a real competitor and I really want to win," she said. "Everyone is hungry now and they all want to beat me. But she was missing a lot with her forehand and I just took advantage of that."

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