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September 9, 2008
Roger that
Back-in-form Federer thumps Murray in straight sets to win fifth U.S. Open in a row and silence critics
By Tom Tebbutt, The Globe and Mail
NEW YORK -- Roger Federer has described the feeling of playing his best tennis as being a sensation like flying. Yesterday, with a decisive 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 win over Andy Murray in the U.S. Open final, he flew further into the tennis stratosphere, to one victory short of Pete Sampras's career record of 14 Grand Slam event victories.
He also soared above the skeptics who have been eager to anoint the younger Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as his successors and superiors, consigning him to a receding position in the sport's rear-view mirror.
Always meticulous in dress and demeanour, Federer, after a disappointing year distinguished by no Grand Slam titles and only two wins at minor events (Estoril and Halle), rarely reacted to the negative vibe about him that grew with every subpar performance.
But last night he acknowledged it, saying, "I was aware and a bit disappointed, a bit annoyed because all sorts of crazy people started writing me, telling me I needed help mentally or physically. People come out of the closet and think they can start helping me. It's a pain. This will calm down the phones at my parent's place, which I'm happy about."
Yesterday, Federer started the match well, breaking a shaky Murray's serve at 3-2 to take control of the opening set.
The second set featured the only truly competitive moments. Murray charged back from a 2-0 disadvantage and would have gone ahead by a break when he held a break point with Federer serving at 15-40, 2-2. A Federer backhand went long by a good inch and a Hawk-Eye replay on television confirmed that. But Murray did not stop the point to make a challenge.
After Federer broke Murray's serve on four points at 6-5 to take the second set, the Scot basically became easy pickings as the Swiss elevated his game to full throttle in the final set.
The players had an amicable handshake at the net with Murray later saying, "I told him that he had, you know, a phenomenal year, regardless of what anyone said. [That] I had a lot of respect for him."
Murray, 21, then brought down the house when asked about receiving a U.S. Open cheque (including U.S. Open Series bonus) for $1-million. "How much is that - £10?" he joked.
With the victory, Federer, 27, became the only player to have won two different Grand Slams, five times in a row - the U.S. Open from 2004 to 2008 and Wimbledon from 2003 to 2007 - and he joined Bill Tilden (1920-25) as the only player to have won five consecutive U.S. championships.
"I think coming here being an Olympic champion really made a big difference," Federer said about winning. "With the Olympic gold in doubles, it really made me forget about [his losses at Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open]. I knew I was so close at Wimbledon [against Nadal] that my chances were always going to be good here." About salvaging a Grand Slam title out of his year, he said, "semis [Australian Open] and finals [French Open and Wimbledon] don't help me a whole lot anymore in my career. It's all about wins, so that's why this is massive."
In a lighter vein, he said with a laugh, "It's nice to compare five Wimbledons to five U.S. Opens. Not many guys - nobody - can do that."
Late coming into his media conference, Federer explained, "I've gotten into the habit, if I win a Slam, I want to enjoy it first with all my friends and family. I used to make the error of going into doping [test] and press right away. Now I give myself a chance to soak up the great moment, enjoy it with them and a glass of champagne, be myself for a little bit in the locker room."
Federer twice looked into the CBS hand-held camera on the court right after his win, smiling and gesturing to spectators watching at home. He always makes the effort to do that, knowing he has millions of fans all over the world and wanting them to realize that he is always aware of their support.
For the usually spoiled Federer faithful, it had not been an easy year. But all that changed yesterday, as their man, polite and caring by nature, gently slammed the door on all the doubters.
Grand Slams
14 Pete Sampras
13 Roger Federer
12 Roy Emerson
11 Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver
10 Bill Tilden
8 Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl
7 John McEnroe, Mats Wilander
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