INDIAN WELLS, California, 22 March 2004 — World No. 1 Roger Federer finished with back-to-back aces in the closing game to dispatch Andre Agassi on Saturday and reach his first final at the ATP WTA Indian Wells event.

The reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion defeated Agassi 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the one hour, 53 minute match at the $4.9 million Masters Series event, booking a final date with England’s Tim Henman.

It was the sixth career meeting between the two and the third straight victory by Federer, who is the first Swiss male to capture a Grand Slam.

“It is always very special for me when I beat players like Pete (Sampras), Andre, (Patrick) Rafter or Goran (Ivanisevic),” said Federer. “Those guys have lived through so much. To beat one of those guys today is really one of those nice moments during the season.”

Federer said he is playing with superior confidence than he has in the past.

“I was able to turn this match around,” said Federer. “I wouldn’t have been able to do that a few years ago. I would panic and start to serve and volley.”

The 22-year-old Federer had 11 aces, hammered 30 winners and registered a 82 percent success rate on first-serve points.

Federer’s victory sets up a clash with Henman, who overpowered unseeded Irakli Labadze of Georgia 6-3, 6-2 in the other semifinal. Henman is the only player to have beaten Federer this season, taking him out in the quarterfinals in Rotterdam last month.

No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne, of Belgium, will square off with third seeded American Lindsay Davenport in the women’s final. Federer was able to step up his play when needed on big points against Agassi, especially up three match points while serving in the final game.

He closed out the match with back-to-back aces, numbers 10 and 11. He then thrust both arms into the air and walked to the net to shake hands with the eight-time Grand Slam champion Agassi, who won this event three years ago.

Federer was the hottest player on the ATP Tour in 2003, winning seven titles. His 78 match victories last year were the most by any ATP player.

Federer committed 12 unforced errors in losing the first set and had his serve broken in the fifth game by Agassi for just the second time in 34 games in the tournament.

Federer broke Agassi’s serve in second game of the second set, but then in one superb stretch the 33-year-old American won 13 of 14 service points.

Agassi made 23 unforced errors to Federer’s 36 and four double faults to five for Federer. He recorded a 76 percent success rate on first-serve points.

“I had my serve working fine,” said Agassi. “You have to make Roger beat you with his backhand because it is definitely the weaker of his two shots.

“But if you don’t execute your shot he dances around it and has arguably the best forehand in the game.”