Federer wins third straight U.S. Open crown

TENNIS: Roger Federer claimed his third U.S. Open title in a row with a flourish on Sunday, beating Andy Roddick 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 to capture his ninth grand slam singles crown. Federer ended the two-hour 27 minute final with an emphatic overhead smash to become the first man ever to win three straight U.S. Opens and three successive Wimbledon titles in the same span.

The 25-year-old Swiss maestro captured the only service break of a tightly contested third set by breaking the ninth-seeded American in the last game and then charged to victory allowing Roddick just 13 points in the final set. Federer fought off four breakpoints in the fifth game of the pivotal third set to lead 3-2, and Roddick saved five break points in a marathon sixth game that went to seven deuces. The pressure-packed set stayed on serve until the 12th game, the tension and the quality of tennis rising with each game.

With Roddick serving to send the set into a tiebreaker, Federer broke service and won the set when the American netted a low, reaching backhand volley.

That put Federer ahead two sets to one and the 25-year-old Swiss champion never looked back. Federer lashed 69 winners in the match against just 33 for Roddick, and out-aced the big-serving American 17 to 7. Roddick, the 2003 winner who had lost 10 of 11 matches against the Swiss maestro, was overwhelmed in the first set in 29 minutes, but charged back to level the match in the second set. Playing with much more energy and urgency in the second set, the American broke Federer to love in the opening game of the second set and held in the fourth game helped by a brilliant point where he stretched wide to reach a half-volley and then hit a reflex volley in self defense for a winner. Showing confidence from the service line and swinging out freely with his powerful forehand, Roddick served out the set after his opening break and committed just two unforced errors in the set.

The hard-serving Rod dick, who had lost serve only five times in his first six Open matches, was broken three times by Federer in the first set as the Swiss master ripped 15 winners against just five by the ninth-seeded American.

NEW YORK, Monday, Reuters