Here's what was supposed to happen. I was going to finish my Andy Roddick article for the newspaper. Then have a rejuventating coffee. Then go up to Rod Laver Arena and watch the Federer-Del Potro match, which would have probably been a set old and nicely warmed up. Then write a blog on the match.

Here's what actually happened. I get a call from Chennai, India from my cousin who tells me: "This is ridiculous." Which is when I look up at my desk TV and see that Federer is leading 6-3, 4-0. Next time I look up, having just sent my article, he's 6-3, 6-0, 5-0 up. It was almost absurd.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina returns the ball to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their men's singles match on day 9 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Jan 27. Federer leads 2 sets to nil as play continues.
Source: AFP photo.

Young Del Potro, 20, was supposed to trouble the old Swiss. But he got three games in three sets and seemed to stay longer in the interview room than the third set (which was 19 minutes). In those old stats books, this shouldn't be listed under "match" but "exhibition".

The Argentine shrugged when asked what happened. Federer happened, he said. "I had a bad day and he's Roger Federer". The Swiss won 83 points, the Argentine 36.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina during their men's singles match on day 9 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Jan 27. Federer is one set nil as play continues.
Source: AFP Photo.

Thing is, tennis' Merlin was known to win matches like this once, just flying flawlessly through sets. In 2006, I remember calculating that on 10 occasions in grand slam matches he won 6-0 sets. Twice in finals, twice in semi-finals.

But I thought that perfect Federer was gone, but apparently he still makes the occasional visit.

Federer revealed that he always plays "better against better ranked players" and his logic was straightforward: they push themselves to beat him and so he has to push himself.

Roddick is next and Federer has a 15-2 head-to-head record against him. Except Roddick defeated him the last time they met last year. The American is serving huge (he lost just three points on serve in the second set against Novak Djokovic), and moving quick, but an American win is unlikely.

Both men have tremendous respect for each other. Roddick twice yesterday called the Swiss "the best ever" while Federer liked the fact that Roddick "hung in there for many years" when times were tough. Roddick in fact said he would like to play Federer because winning a grand slam by beating the Swiss on the way has a better feeling.

But the best line of the evening came when the Swiss said of the Roddick match, "it'll be nice to play someone my age". He's 27, Roddick is 26. The rest are kids. Well, at least Federer made Del Potro look like one.