Agassi in Final; Roddick Isn’t

Seven days before, he’d been the clever, appealing star of “Saturday Night Live.” This time, Andy Roddick was Saturday afternoon lifeless, laid out on the mauve paving of a tennis court, surrounded by 7,500 witnesses.

The U.S. Open champion was cut down by Roger Federer of Switzerland, 7-6 (2), 6-2, in a semifinal of the Masters at the Westside Tennis Club. In this last roundup of 2003, involving the ATP’s top eight players, Federer is the lone undefeated entrant -- 4-0 in round-robin play. His victory over the No. 1-ranked Roddick was his fifth in their six meetings.

In today’s final, Federer will face fifth-seeded Andre Agassi, a 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 victor over sixth-seeded Rainer Schuettler of Germany.

Paternity leave of 64 days appears to have been the right prescription for Agassi. Missing from the courts since his U.S. Open semifinal loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero, staying at home for the Oct. 3 birth of his and Steffi Graf’s daughter, he had a demanding time reaching the final. In his round-robin opener, he let two match points melt as he lost to Federer, but he revived with comeback victories over No. 2 Ferrero and No. 8 David Nalbandian of Argentina.

“I wasn’t sure how I’d be,” said Agassi, 33. “I’ve never been inactive that long. Of course I was in great physical shape, but would I be all right without match-play preparation?”

He’s been more than all right.

Agassi, who won the U.S. Clay Court title here in April, has nurtured a foot-stomping Houston following. Schuettler was a lonely man, although about a dozen Germans in the country’s red, black and yellow colors gamely supported him. Schuettler -- who beat Roddick at the Australian Open before losing the final to Agassi -- fought imaginatively and ripped a backhand down the line on the only break point of the first set, 5-6, 30-40, to take it. He was keeping up with Agassi blast for blast, and scoring with drop shots and sneak volleys.

But with the one-set lead, Schuettler, who defeated Roddick in the round-robin, “lost my concentration a little. If you give Andre a little space, miss a couple of easy balls, he’s taking over. He stepped on the gas a little.” Agassi was off on an eight-game trot to lead, 2-0, in the third.

Nevertheless, the German scrambled back to lead, 3-2. Agassi then took the last four games and the victory.

Whether or not Federer, seeded third, beats Agassi today for the second time in five tries, the Wimbledon champion can boast of defeating the other three winners of majors in this showdown: Ferrero, of the French, and Roddick, of the U.S.

“I was solid all the way,” said Federer. “This tournament with round-robin gives you a strange feeling. It’s my first. I’ve beaten Andre already and have to play him again. But I played my best match today.”

Twins Bob and Mike Bryan of Camarillo won the doubles championship in a brilliant volleying duel against Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4.