Australian Open
Federer makes it thrice
Sets up Baghdatis final
Afp, Melbourne
Roger Federer reached his third consecutive Grand Slam final Friday with an easy win over Nicolas Kiefer at the Australian Open, to set up an intriguing clash with new star Marcos Baghdatis. The Swiss world number one, watched by his idol Rod Laver in the arena named after him, was too consistent for the self-destructing 21st seeded German, winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 in 2hr 40min. Federer stepped up his game after error-riddled wins over Tommy Haas and Nikolay Davydenko in previous rounds, and broke Kiefer's serve five times in the last two sets for a convincing win. The top seed, the first player since Andre Agassi in 1999 to reach three consecutive Grand Slam finals, is looking for his second Australian Open, after beating Russian Marat Safin here in 2004, and his seventh Grand Slam crown. "I had sort of a strange feeling going into this match. Not a negative one, but just like a big excitement because I knew, I'm so close for another Grand Slam," Federer said. "We've had many close and tough matches over the years, he's beaten me a few times and happily I've beaten him more times than he's beaten me," he said of Kiefer, the bad boy of the tournament who has rung up a stack of fines. "It was good to be pushed so much by Tommy and Nikolay. I don't think I have played too bad up until now. I'm really happy to be back in the finals." Federer said he was looking forward to playing tournament surprise packet Baghdatis in Sunday's final. "We're all surprised he has got so far because there's other very talented youngsters who I thought would make the break before him. But he has proved us all wrong," he said. "He has beaten quality players and he totally deserves to be in the final. "The thought that I've played him three times and beaten him relaxes me a little bit." Kiefer, who was in his first slam semi-final, self-destructed with a faltering service and volleying clangers, twice double-faulting on break point and committing a total of 53 unforced errors. The German, who was fined 6,000 US dollars for unsportsmanlike conduct and obscenities in earlier rounds, was off his best and looked to have been dulled by his extra six hours on court than Federer to reach the semi-final. The Swiss broke Kiefer's serve six times and only gave up his own serve once when he lost the second set. It improved his record over Kiefer to 8-3, winning their last seven meetings, and extended his winning streak this season to 11 matches. Federer broke Kiefer's serve in the fourth game of the first set after the German double-faulted on break point.
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