World No. 1 Roger Federer claimed his fourth Masters Cup title with a virtuoso display against David Ferrer of Spain yesterday.
The Swiss defending champion dominated his fifth consecutive year-end final from the outset, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in just one hour and 38 minutes.
Federer leaves with US$1.2 million in prize money, pushing his season earnings to a record US$8,630,620, and a Mercedes-Benz car.
PHOTO: AFP
"I'm so happy," Federer beamed. "This is the year-end tournament championship where only the best play so for me to have won this yet again is a great experience."
"I'm looking forward to some vacation and then come back hopefully stronger next year," he said.
Ferrer was left in no doubt about the quality of his opponent.
"Roger is the best in history," he said. "I tried to do my best. I was a bit nervous but he did it all: serve, volley, slice."
"I was never comfortable on the court. I don't return badly but when Federer serves on line, I can't do anything," Ferrer said.
Federer entered the final as strong favorite against the sixth-ranked Ferrer after routing Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal.
He volleyed his way out of a break point in his first service game and turned the tables with a mesmerizing lob and volley in Ferrer's next game, converting the first break point as the Spaniard netted.
Ferrer was wilting visibly in the face of Federer's all-round onslaught and double-faulted to go two breaks down, and then netted a backhand to give up the set in just 26 minutes.
The terrier-like Ferrer is known for his chasing but it was Federer who was covering the court, cracking unerring backhands past the Spaniard, who hit a wild forehand to go 3-4 down in the second and was broken again to lose the set.
Federer fended off three break points at the start of the third and bent a running forehand past Ferrer to go 3-1 up. He completed the demolition by breaking again with another forehand winner.
Federer won the Masters Cup in 2003, 2004 and last year, losing the 2005 final to David Nalbandian while injured.
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