Rain halts Federer charge

Roger Federer was leading Andre Agassi when rain forced the players off early in the second set during the Masters Cup final in Houston.

The Swiss player had taken the first set 6-3 and was 2-0 up in the second when the heavens opened.

It was a match pitching Wimbledon champion against the Australian Open winner, with Federer – who won the former in July for his first grand slam title - dominating from the back court.

Agassi has been peerless from such zones for a number of years, but Federer was equally strong on both flanks and was hitting a flurry of notable backhand winners.

There was no indication of when play might resume.

Agassi won this end-of-season title 13 years ago.