Roger Federer won the first of his six ATP Finals titles in 2003 after defeating eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi in the final.
Agassi was looking to add a second year-end championship to his collection, following his triumph in 1990.
Unfortunately for Agassi, Federer proved too strong for him in the final, winning the contest 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.
Federer, who has been described as having the ‘ideal footwork,’ would go on to win five more ATP Finals titles: in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.
After Federer’s first triumph in 2003, Agassi heaped praise upon the 22-year-old talent.
Andre Agassi called Roger Federer an ‘inspiration’
After losing to Federer in Houston, Texas, Agassi celebrated Federer’s game, describing the young talent as an ‘inspiration.’
As per BBC Sport and the Telegraph, Agassi said: “You (Federer) are an inspiration to watch move and play and you are going to make me get better next year.”
He added: “He’s [Federer] doing everything great. He’s a great mover, a great striker of the ball off both sides.
“He’s a factor from the back of the court and when he comes to the net. He knows the game really well.
“His serve is very effective, very accurate. He never misses it by leaving it in your strike zone. He always misses it away from you.”
Federer, who was seeded third at the tournament, had already beaten Andre Agassi in the group stage before beating the American again in the final.
Federer, who defeated Agassi 6–7, 6–3, 7-6 in the group stage, also beat Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Nalbandian.
In the semi-finals, Federer faced world number one Andy Roddick, who came second in his group behind Germany’s Rainer Schuttler.
Federer, who made 17 ATP Tour Finals appearances during his career, dispatched Roddick 7-6, 6-2, before defeating Agassi in the final.
How did Roger Federer react?
“It’s nice to hear, you know, from such a great champion like he is,” Federer told reporters after the match.
“He wasn’t my favorite player, I had different — I have a different style than he has, but it’s nice to hear it from a different style, especially like he’s playing.
“I think he’s a real example for the fans. He’s so professional. He’s very fair play. It’s really nice to play him.
“I feel like the two matches we’ve played here, you know, were very nice, you know, from the human side. You know, hopefully I can play him again next year.”
Federer and Agassi played each other 11 times on the ATP Tour, with Federer winning on eight of those occasions.
Agassi won their first three matches between 1998 and 2002: their first match was contested at the 1998 Basel Open.
However, after Agassi emerged victorious against Federer at the 2002 Miami Open, he failed to defeat the Swiss player again.
Federer won eight consecutive matches against Agassi, the last being in the 2005 US Open final.
Federer’s victory marked his fourth Grand Slam title and a third of 2005, following victories in Australia and France.
