Argentina's Gaston Gaudio proclaimed Roger Federer 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 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 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."