Majestic Federer takes title

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New world number one Roger Federer comprehensively outplayed Marat Safin to win the Australian Open.

Federer displayed the kind of breathtaking form which took him to the Wimbledon title last July in a commanding 7-6 6-4 6-2 win over Safin.

Safin defeated Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick on his way to the final but he had no answer to the power and precision of his opponent.

Federer sealed his second Grand Slam title with a fierce first serve.

"What a great start to the year," said Federer, who became world number one with his semi-final win over Juan Carlos Ferrero.

"To win the Australian Open and become number one in the world is a dream come true."

Safin admitted he was affected by fatigue against Federer after spending over 17 hours on court just getting to the final.

"I'm glad to be in the finals again and to have played my best tennis after last year's injuries," he said.

"I just ran out of gas today."

Many had expected the encounter between Safin and Federer, two of the most talented players in the game, to be a classic.

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But once Federer won a see-saw first set on a tiebreak, Safin's game fell away, with his first serve deserting him.

The Russian battled gamely but even at peak form he would have struggled against Federer.

The Swiss second seed broke Safin in the fifth game of the second set and closed out the set with a big serve down the middle to take a stranglehold on the match.

The 22-year-old seized a double break in the third set with a whipped forehand pass to take a 4-1 lead and put an exasperated Safin out of his misery on his first match point after two hours and 15 minutes.