Argentina's Gaston Gaudio proclaimed Roger Federer [ Images ] the best tennis player in history after being crushed 6-0, 6-0 at the Masters Cup on Saturday.

Swiss world number one Federer scored the first whitewash in the 35-year history of the season-ending championships to book his place in Sunday's final in Shanghai.

Gaudio offered no excuses after his humiliation and hailed Federer, who next plays David Nalbandian [ Images ] in the final, as the best ever.

"No excuse. I was playing against the best guy in history," said a dejected Gaudio. "Once in your life it happens and it has happened to me today."

Asked by a Chinese reporter how to stop Federer winning his third straight Masters Cup title, Gaudio shrugged: "I think maybe you should ask someone else. Don't ask me."

Gaudio was left stunned by Federer's awesome display as he became the first player to fail to win a game.

"That was maybe the worst match I've played," said last year's French Open [ Images ] champion. "Before the match I thought I could do a little better. Now I prefer not to be here today."

A shell-shocked Gaudio added: "I want to apologise to the crowd. I couldn't give anything. I couldn't give them the match they expected."

But Gaudio, who was trying to become the first Argentine to reach the final since Guillermo Vilas won the season-ending event in 1974, remained philosophical in defeat.

"Of course I'm sad about it," said the world number nine. "I'm disappointed. Everything was bad today but what can I do? It happens in life. There are things worse than this in life."