The world number 1 Roger Federer produced his best tennis of the tournament so far to oust the in-form Tommy Haas 6-4 7-5 and in so doing set up a final showdown with another in-form player, Mikhail Youzhny in this his 5th consecutive Dubai final.

Both Haas and Youzhny had won tournaments last week; Haas in Memphis and Youzhny in Rotterdam, whereas Federer has not played a match since winning the Australian Open. However, the draw has been kind to the world number 1 unlike poor Rafael Nadal who was handed one of the worst possible draws and stood little chance of successfully defending his title.

Federer has had a chance to play himself into form; shifting through the gears so to speak with every match. Although still not quite in top form, the top seed was still too good for the versatile German who must be fed up of losing to the Swiss maestro having played him 10 times and only winning two; the last victory coming in the 4^th round of the Australian Open in 2002 where Haas squeezed through 8-6 in the final set.

Today, Federer got the early break in the third game, setting up break point with a backhand volley winner and converting when Haas sent a forehand wide.

That proved to be the decisive break with Federer closing out the set in 37 minutes when the German's defensive lob sailed wide.

The second set was a much more even affair; Federer extricating himself from a precarious 0-40 situation in the sixth game including an exciting point where Haas attempted to pass the Swiss with a ‘hotdog' winner which Federer cut off with a stop volley. Having lost those break point opportunities, as sure as night follows day, Haas found himself break points down himself, but crucially saved them and held for 4-3.

With Federer serving at 4-5 and 40-15, Haas produced a moment of true inspiration and pulled off the ‘hotdog ‘pass down the line and raised his arms in triumph. An impressed Federer simply waved his hands down as if to say "get outta here, that's my shot!"

That shot could have proved to be the turning point of the match as Federer minutes later faced set point. With a courageous backhand drive down the line which the German at full stretch couldn't control, Federer held him off and two points later it was 5-5.

Desperate to avoid a tie-break like the one he played against Novak Djokovic and lost, the world number 1 turned up the heat on his strokes and in no time had Haas at 0-40. Although the German would save the first with a service winner, he had no answer on the second when a sublime forehand crosscourt return beat him for an outright winner.

Federer reached double match point with an ace, and closed out the 90 minute match with a forehand smash winner.

"It was extremely physical out there tonight, a lot of tough points; tough to get the break", Federer admitted. "He didn't face a break point all last week. He was definitely on a roll, played excellent against (Olivier) Rochus. I saw the way he played from the baseline which was excellent; not making any mistakes and playing aggressive. So I knew it was going to be tough with a lot of running and patience as well, and hopefully, from my end also serve well and try and stay in the match. The second set break that I got was crucial after saving all those break points and everything, so to come through tonight I think was an excellent performance. I rate it very high."

Federer expressed his surprise that Haas was able to pull off the ‘hotdog' winner as he had done two nights ago.

"I really didn't think he was going to get me on that one because I was in good court position you know; I was very close to the net. It's amazing what happens when you hit it well, you never get a look at those shots and you don't know where it's going. I thought the lob is the only option he's going to get, but usually you hit it hard. What an amazing shot from the middle of the court, I was very impressed."

Haas' run in Dubai may have come to an end, but the German was very satisfied with his run here having won in Memphis last week.

"I'm pleased with the way I played", Haas said. "Obviously, the same old story against him; not using the chances that you have. He comes up with the goods when he has to. I had chances when he was 0-40 and also at set point. You have to make those points in order to have a chance to win, and if you don't make them then it's obviously frustrating."

Andre Jones

Dubai