Sporting Life - Wimbledon 2008

Roger Federer reached his sixth Wimbledon final with a straight-sets victory over Marat Safin.

Safin suggested before the match that there was little prospect of him causing an upset and that is the way it proved as Federer dominated on Centre Court.

After taking the first set 6-3, Federer then won a second-set tie-break to establish a commanding two-set advantage.

He bided his time against an increasingly frustrated Safin in the third set, breaking serve in the 10th game to secure a 6-3 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 victory which was much more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests.

Federer's reward is another meeting with Rafael Nadal - who beat Rainer Schuettler - in Sunday's final having beaten the Spaniard in each of the last two years.

Early break

A break of serve in the second game of the first set was enough for the five-time champion, whose own serve was never threatened in a set lasting just 24 minutes.

Federer's serve has been improving throughout the tournament and after allowing Mario Ancic only 10 points against the serve in their quarter-final he maintained his impressive record in the opening set.

The world number one gave up only four points as Safin found no answer to a relentless onslaught.

Safin fared better in the second set, although when his two chances came to break he was unable to take either.

The set went with serve and finished with four successive love service games, taking it into a tie-break.

Mistakes

Two mistakes from Safin, who twice netted as he came in behind the serve, allowed Federer to race into a 4-0 lead in the breaker.

The Swiss star made it 5-1 when Safin dragged a big forehand wide and a forehand winner down the line brought him four set points at 6-2.

Safin saved the first with a powerful serve to the centre but an ace from the Federer racquet sealed the set.

Safin's frustration was clear to see as he continued to make little impact against the Federer serve in the third set.

When Federer moved 40-15 ahead in the ninth game, the Russian's temper, which had been bubbling for some time, finally erupted as he smashed his racquet onto the baseline.

At the end of the game the temperamental 28-year-old threw his racquet onto his chair at the change of ends.

Federer emerged to take full advantage of his opponent's increasingly agitated state, forcing two match points and taking the first with a whipped backhand cross-court winner.