When the Australian Open began last week, Andre Agassi wanted nothing more than a shot at Roger Federer, the last – and perhaps the most formidable – rival of his illustrious career. He had barely lost to Federer at the U.S. Open, extending him to five sets over two days. No one other than Agassi could even compete with the Swiss champion during those two weeks last summer. After dropping 10 pounds and tinkering with his plan of attack, the 34-year-old arrived in Melbourne fit for the challenge of his life.

Agassi got his chance Tuesday evening, but he came up short. Remarkably short. In a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 defeat, Agassi couldn’t muster a single break of serve. He has found ways to beat all the best players of the last 20 years – Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg – but Federer is now out of reach.

“I never got my teeth into it,” Agassi said. “And when I don’t get my teeth into a match, I can look pretty ordinary.”

For Federer, the win was indeed routine. He’s unbeaten in his last 26 matches and has won three of the last four Grand Slams. In Melbourne, he has yet to lose a set as he tries to defend his title. Opponents ranked in the top 10 don’t stand a chance, either: Federer has beaten them 24 straight times, a streak that goes back to October 2003.

More impressive still, Federer hardly played his best Tuesday night on a slow hard-court surface that Agassi, a four time Australian Open champion, prefers to any other on tour.

“It’s disappointing,” Agassi said. “I’ve spent a lot of years coming down here and having some real memorable matches and leaving with the trophy. I wanted tonight to be memorable. But it’s one I’d probably prefer to forget.”

Federer found the range on his first serve all night, landing it 66% of the time and winning 77% of those points. He hit 22 aces to Agassi’s one, and tallied 46 winners to Agassi’s 13.Though Federer made 31 unforced errors, including several ugly ones on his backhand side, Agassi was not far behind, with 20.

This was the first match of the tournament in which Agassi failed to strike more winners than errors. Agassi earned only four break points, and Federer swept them aside with two aces, a service winner, and a wicked forehand.

Agassi’s strategy was clear from the start. He needed to take charge of the match and make Federer uncomfortable. He would hit bigger than usual, try to shorten the points, and pressure his opponent. And he would hit to backhand side every chance he could. On paper, it seemed as easy as a third-grade math problem. But in practice, Federer has a habit of transforming the simplest equations into quantum physics.

“That backhand corner gets smaller and smaller, he sort of dares you to hit it to that forehand,” Agassi said. “There’s a lot of times you do and you’re thinking that’s a good idea, then a second later you’re going, ‘Why did I do that?’ He can cover so quickly, and not just get there but do something when he gets there. A lot of guys move well, but if they’re not really set to hit, they can’t generate a lot.”

No matter what Agassi did, Federer had an answer. Serving for the first set, he fought off three break points and closed out the game with a backhand winner down the line. Federer broke Agassi in the first game of the next two sets, leaving no doubt that he intended to run away with the match. At times, his variety inspires disbelief – a delicate volley here, a forehand return winner there, a slice backhand winner on the run.

“He just outplayed me. He was too good,” Agassi said. “I would suggest that his next opponents don’t look to me for advice. That would be my advice.”

Marat Safin, Federer’s semifinal challenge, should be thankful that he can turn to someone else: Federer’s former coach, Peter Lundgren. If anyone knows how to take apart the puzzle that is Federer, it should be the man who helped put him together.

Safin gave Federer a scare in the semifinals of last year’s Tennis Masters Cup in Houston, losing in straight sets but forcing Federer to win a 20-18 tiebreak in the second set. Federer bludgeoned Safin in last year’s Australian Open final, but the Russ ian was exhausted after winning consecutive five-set matches against Andy Roddick and Agassi. This year he is well rested, especially after an easy 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 quarterfinal victory over Dominik Hrbaty.

As temperatures climbed steadily Tuesday afternoon, tournament officials invoked the 95-degree rule and closed the roof over Rod Laver Arena. Given air conditioning and a shield from the wind, the powerful Safin overwhelmed Hrbaty, a persistent player who considers stamina one of his greatest assets.

“I saw that he really wanted to play with the heat,” Safin said. “It looks like he wasn’t really happy with that.”

With or without the heat, Federer said he expected a tougher match from Safin – and he would prefer to play under an open roof.

“It’s an outdoor tournament,” he said. “Otherwise you shouldn’t have to travel down here to play.”

As for Agassi, Federer told the veteran that he hoped to play him many times more.

“That makes one of us,” Agassi replied.