Federer's precision beautiful as ever; Roddick steams

	Andy Roddick's frustration boiled over when he threw his racket in the direction of a photographer. AP
	RELATED • Federer blows away Roddick in three sets

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Five things we learned from the Roger Federer-Andy Roddick semifinal massacre on Thursday in the Australian Open semifinals:

1. Federer is meaner than he looks. As modest a figure as he cuts, Federer is deceptively strong-willed and competitive. This match was unmistakably a statement -- one made in 72-point block letters. Roddick came within a first serve of beating Federer at the Shanghai Masters Cup last fall. He then beat him in a pre-tournament exhibition. Talk abounded of the "gap closing" between Federer and the rest of the field, Roddick, in particular. This beatdown -- Federer won 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 in a match that wasn't even as close as the score indicated -- suggests that gap is now a vortex.

2. Federer can entertain, even if the match lacks suspense. This clash was built up as a "popcorn match" and faster than you can say "Orville Redenbacher" it was over. Because Federer was simply virtuous and hit so many obscene winners, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable night. Kia, the car manufacturer, sponsors a "play of the day" spot. I was talking with Mats Wilander after the match and he suggested Kia simply replay the second set, one in which Federer was 24 of 30 and hit 11 winners to only one unforced error. Roddick sometimes seemed less an opponent than a partner in the performance. Still, the fans loved it and showered The Mighty Fed with a standing O when it was over.

3. Coaching is overrated. Roddick, of course, has Jimmy Connors in his corner. Federer is essentially coachless, the great Tony Roche serving only as a sort of part-time consultant. Yet Federer played a much better tactical match. Roddick clearly came in with an attack-attack-attack gameplan, but more often than not he watched helplessly as passing shots strafed by. He had little variety on his serves and did little to try and disrupt Federer's timing.

4. Here's still another Federer asset: his eyes. We hear all the time about Federer's superior movement, his anticipation, his hands, his complete game -- everything short of his ability to make a soufflé. But tonight he really impressed with his vision. He read Roddick's serves as though they were propped on a tee, even taking cuts at the 140 mph screamers. Consider that Roddick, perhaps tennis' most fearsome server, was broken more times (seven) than he held (five). Eagle-eyed, Federer was also right on all three of his replay challenges. Line up that LensCrafters endorsement.

5. Even in defeat, Roddick has a hell of a sense of humor. His postmortem was one for the ages. Among the highlights. "It was frustrating. It sucked. It was terrible. Besides that, it was fine." How will he sleep tonight? "It depends on how much I drink." Roddick was told that he had performed better in the news conference than on the court. His response: "No s---."