Agassi defeats leaves Hewitt as number one in ATP ranks
Ossian Shine, Reuters, Shanghai, China
Australia's Lleyton Hewitt clinched the year-end world number one ranking without lifting a racket on Thursday night as his only rival for top spot Andre Agassi lost 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 to Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Tennis Masters Cup.
Agassi fought for his life but could not outlast the Spaniard and prevent Hewitt being crowned year-end number one for a second successive year.
The American needed to win the US$3.7 million year-ending tournament to stand a chance of becoming the oldest player to end a year top of the pile, but his loss to the Spanish baseliner and his defeat to Jiri Novak the day before leaves him unable to qualify for the semifinals.
Earlier in the day, Roger Federer outgunned Jiri Novak 6-0, 4- 6, 6-2 in another round robin match of the Masters Cup.
Federer had previously revealed that the inspiration has come from a different sporting source.
"FC Basel have been riding on a wave and it has been inspiring me lately," the stylish Swiss tennis player said when asked of his home team's achievement of reaching the second stage of soccer's Champions League.
"They didn't beat (Liverpool) but they finished ahead of them in the rankings and that is what is important and I think that is an incredible result for Basel," he added. "I mean, I think nobody expected this.
"They were hoping to get into the UEFA Cup and now they have made it into the next stage of the Champions League.
"I think the whole year has been just incredible for them. They won the Swiss Cup, they won the Swiss Championship, then they qualified against Celtic and they have been riding on this wave.
"It is a pleasure to go and watch them."
It has also been a pleasure watching Federer this week at the biggest professional sports event to have been staged in China.
The fluid right-hander has been compared to Pete Sampras by many as he has flashed his skills at the New Shanghai International Expo Center and the comparison is nothing new.
"It's not the first time I've heard this," he said, "but obviously it is nice to be compared to one of the all-time greats.
"I know we both play very smooth, but my results are nothing compared to his."
Federer's result on the third day of action at the season- ender -- a win over the Czech -- was impressive enough and put him firmly on course for a place in the semifinals.
"I'm still very far away (from winning the tournament), let's be honest," he said. "But I feel good and if I continue playing the way I did today I think I have a chance."