Roger Federer produced a tennis masterclass to claim his first Grand Slam title with a 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of big-serving Mark Phili-ppoussis in the Wimbledon final on Sunday.

The 21-year-old fourth seed from Switzerland produced a display of cool artistry on Centre Court to confirm his status as a new dominant force in men's tennis with a comprehensive victory over the Australian in one hour and 56 minutes.

"It's an absolute dream for me. I always used to joke around when I was a boy that I was going to win this and I have it," said Federer, cradling the famous Challenge Cup after his emphatic win.

"It's such a nice trophy. I'm so happy with the way I played. It was the best two matches maybe of my career," added the Swiss, who demolished hot favourite Andy Roddick in three sets in the semifinals.

"I kept it going in the final. It's just incredible right now. It's incredible, I don't know how I did it."

"A lot of people came from Basel and home, it's so nice to share this

moment. Thanks to everybody, it's great," he concluded, his voice cracking with emotion as he broke down in tears.

Philippoussis said: "Roger was too good I just congratulate him, it's his day definitely. I only had one break point. He returned a lot better than I did today. He took his chances.

"But I'm definitely proud, there are a lot of positive things to take away from these two weeks. I will definitely be back that's for sure," added the player dubbed the 'The Scud' for his rocket-like serves.

With both players appearing in their first Wimbledon final they could have been excused some early nerves. But if there were any, they were well disguised in a start to the match lit up by booming aces, flashing returns and rocksolid volleying.

The first 12 games all went with serve and did not feature a single break point, although Federer looked slightly more threatening and twice had the Australian at 3030 on serve.

Philippoussis, who also lost in the 1998 US Open final, reacted to the danger in characteristic fashion by sending down unreturnable serves, one ace in the eighth game being clocked at 138 miles per hour (222.1 kph).

The 26-year-old unseeded Australian dug himself out of a

mini-crisis at 5-6, snuffing out the danger to take the first set into a tiebreak.

A 15-stroke baseline rally at 2-2 in the tiebreak had both players scampering from corner to corner before Federer cracked a forehand winner down the line.

The decisive moment came at 45 when an edgy looking Philippou-ssis served his third double fault to hand Federer two set points and the Swiss clinched the set on the second.

With Philippoussis visibly deflated, Federer stepped up a gear in the second set to establish a 3-0 lead in 11 brilliant minutes.

Two dipping forehand winners and a volley mistake from Philippoussis gave him his first break of the match. After holding easily for 2-0 he then broke again as Philippoussis' challenge began to crumble.

A slight lapse in Federer's concentration gave Philippoussis a glimmer of hope in the next game when he reached 0-30 on his opponent's serve. But the fourth seed stayed cool, moving into a 4-0 lead with a crosscourt forehand into an empty court.

Philippoussis stopped the rot to hold in the fifth game, but there was no respite as Federer maintained the

SEE PAGE 14 COL 4 pressure with a masterful display of all-court tennis to serve out the set with his 14th ace.

An overrule from umpire Gerry Armstrong saved Philippoussis at 1-1 in the third set, when a second serve which landed bang on the line at 30-40 was initially called out.

Federer was briefly threatened in the next game when he was taken to deuce on serve for the first time in the match, but he responded with yet another forehand winner and an ace for 2-2.

There were signs that Philippoussis was warming to the task as he rediscovered his serving rhythm, but he still could not make an impression on his opponent's delivery.

The pressure told at 5-5 when he served a double fault to hand Federer two break points. But he breathed a sigh of relief when the Swiss hit a forehand centimetres long with the court at his mercy.

As the match moved into another tiebreak, a mis-hit forehand return that dropped agonisingly inside the baseline gave Federer a 3-1 lead and when Philippoussis missed a simple volley the writing was on the wall.

Federer missed a backhand on his first championship point at 6-1 and Philippoussis held off another with a powerful serve. But the Swiss made no mistake at 6-3, dropping to his knees in triumph when Philippoussis failed to make a return.