The Hindu : Sport : Federer clinches 12th Slam with fourth U.S. Open crown

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Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007
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Federer clinches 12th Slam with fourth U.S. Open crown

Nathalie Dechy-Dinara Safina duo wins women’s doubles championship

— PHOTO: AP

NO STOPPING FEDEXPRESS: Roger Federer survived a Novak Djokovic scare to claim his fourth successive U.S. Open title on Sunday.

NEW YORK: An hour after Roger Federer struck a most familiar pose, hoisting that silver trophy over his head, another celebration took place at the U.S. Open.

Novak Djokovic’s family and friends threw him a little party on Sunday night, as if he’d won. Made sense, too. Because these days, everyone in tennis is basically playing for second place behind Roger the Great.

“No. 2, No. 3 — it doesn’t matter much,” Federer said. “It’s No. 1 that matters. That’s how it goes.”

In a match that tilted as much on mental strength as shot-making ability, Federer beat back seven set points on Sunday in a 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 win over Djokovic for a fourth straight U.S. Open championship and a 12th Grand Slam.

“He had his chances today, many of them,” Federer said. “You could sing a song about it.”

Or write a novel.

“My next book is going to be called, ‘Seven Set Points,”’ Djokovic said, his smile intact.

Four-in-a-row

Federer became the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win the American Grand Slam four years in a row. Add in his five straight Wimbledon titles, plus his three overall at the Australian Open and he’s two away from Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Slams.

And at 26, he’s in the prime of his career. “I think about it a lot now,” Federer said of Sampras’s mark. “To come so close at my age is fantastic, and I hope to break it.”

At 20, Djokovic made a strong impression on and off the court, reaching his first Slam final and doing dead-on imitations of Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal.

Sharapova sat in Djokovic’s box — “it’s just a friendship,” he insisted — and apparently approves of his rendition.

“She said she’s going to kill me,” the personable Serb said. “Of course, she found it funny. Not offended.”

Djokovic also does one of Federer that’s posted on YouTube. But Federer didn’t exactly smile when asked about Djokovic’s joking.

“I know some guys weren’t happy. I know some guys might think it’s funny,” he said. “He’s walking a tightrope, for sure.”

About an hour after the match, Djokovic walked outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, where a dozen people were waiting for him. They chanted his name, posed for pictures and gave him a bottle of champagne.

Then, they all gathered around for Djokovic to pop the cork. He tried and tried. Somehow, he couldn’t quite finish the job — he needed his dad’s help to twist the top.

It fit, considering how Djokovic’s day went.

Djokovic was the last player to beat Federer, winning two tiebreakers at a tournament in Montreal a month ago.

Federer was hardly dominant, and when he double-faulted, then sprayed two forehands long, Djokovic had the first break of the match, going up 6-5. Perhaps thinking they’d be witnesses to an upset, many in the crowd got on their feet, clapping and screaming.

So Djokovic served for the first set and raced out to a 40-love edge.

But Federer hit a cross-court forehand winner that caught a line, and Djokovic missed two backhands. Then came a fourth set point, but Djokovic sent a forehand long.

Then a fifth, but Federer smacked a forehand return that landed right on the baseline and Djokovic’s stab backhand went long. After Djokovic missed yet another backhand to give Federer his first break point of the match, the Serb double-faulted.

That sent the set to a tiebreaker, where there was more of the same. Of Federer’s seven points, two were courtesy of double-faults and two were from backhand errors by Djokovic.

Djokovic recovered quickly, taking 4-1 lead after only 15 minutes in the second set. Once more, Federer asserted himself, breaking back at love to get within 4-3. And when Federer served while trailing 6-5, Djokovic earned two set points.

Federer removed the first with a 203 kph (126 mph) ace, and Djokovic sent the set to duece with an errant forehand.

Again they went to a tiebreaker, and again Federer was better. When he ended it with a backhand passing winner down the line — placing the ball through the one, tiny opening there was — Federer skipped toward the sideline, screamed and punched the air.

Djokovic had one last opportunity to climb back into the match, getting to love-40 when Federer served at 2-2 in the third set. But Djokovic sailed a backhand return long, let a Federer forehand skim off the baseline to end a 15-stroke exchange, then put a backhand return in the net. That brought it to deuce, and Federer took the next two points to hold.

Federer earned a Grand Slam-record $2.4 million: $1.4 million for winning the tournament, and a $1 million bonus because he finished atop the U.S. Open Series standings based on performances at hard-court tune-up events.

He’s now reached the final in 10 straight Slams, with his lone losses to Nadal in the last two French Opens.

In this tournament, almost everyone except Nadal took their best shots at Federer. Young John Isner and Andy Roddick brought their booming serves, Nikolay Davydenko ran all over the court and Djokovic showed promise.

Dechy does it again

Nathalie Dechy of France and Dinara Safina of Russia won the women’s doubles title in their first tournament together, beating Chan Yung-Jan and Chuang Chia-Jung of Taiwan 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

Dechy also won last year’s doubles title at Flushing Meadows, but with Vera Zvonareva as her partner — and Safina was the runner-up, pairing with Katarina Srebotnik. — AP

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