Sports briefs for November 17, 2003

Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 | 9:57 a.m.

Roger Federer capped a fantastic tournament and year with a truly spectacular performance, dominating Andre Agassi 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 Sunday to win the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Houston for his tour-high seventh title of 2003.

Even Agassi was moved to call Federer's play "an inspiration" and "as good as it gets."

"He has great hands. Great hand speed, great feel. Great movement. An all-court game," Agassi said.

Federer displayed all of that and more in a week in which he earned $1,520,000 and moved up to No. 2 behind Andy Roddick. Federer went 5-0 and won 11 of 12 sets against an elite field.

Against Agassi, Federer put together a 39-13 edge in winners and had 11 aces. He broke Agassi five times and never faced a break point against one of the greatest returners in history. Agassi didn't have a backhand winner until the third set.

South Africans prevail

Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini combined to shoot a 1-over-par 73 for a four-stroke victory at the World Cup at Kiawah Island, S.C. , giving South Africa its first World Cup title in three years and fifth overall.

Another Matsui?

Seibu Lions shortstop Kazuo Matsui, a seven-time All-Star in Japan, said today at a news conference that he's decided to pursue a big league career in North America. Matsui, 28, is a free agent. He is not related the Hideki Matsui of the Yankees.

Zhang keeps title

Defending world champion Guozheng Zhang of China retained his world title Sunday, winning the gold medal in the 151.8-pound class at the world weightlifting championships in Vancouver, British Columbia.

U.S. men drop to 1-1

A day after defeating Canada, the U.S. men's team lost to Serbia-Montenegro in straight sets today at the World Cup, an Olympic qualifying event in Tokyo. The top three teams in the 12-nation tournament qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics.