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Flawless Federer makes it five-in-a-row

Disappointing end to a dream run for Briton Andy Murray

— PHOTO: AP

ROARING BACK: Roger Federer got back into his familiar role by winning the U.S. Open title in style, after an agonising slump in form this year.

NEW YORK: Roger Federer cast aside insinuations that his reign at the top of world tennis was over, overwhelming Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 Monday and winning his fifth straight U.S. Open championship, and 13th Grand Slam title.

Federer won his first major title of the year, breezing through three sets without a double-fault and leading 36-16 in winners. He earned nearly half his points at the net.

``I felt like I was invincible for a while again,'' Federer said.

When Murray's final shot landed in the net, Federer fell to his knees on the blue court at Arthur Ashe Stadium and rolled onto his back.

``I always knew that if I were to get one Slam under my belt, especially the last one, things weren't looking that bad, like everybody was talking about,'' he said.

Federer's once dominating presence looked shaky this season after he lost in the semifinals at the Australian Open, and to nemesis Rafael Nadal of Spain in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon, putting him on the verge of his first year since 2002 without a major title.

To make matters worse, his record 4 1/2-year reign at No. 1 ended when Nadal surpassed him last month. It was starting to bother Federer.

``Sometimes, to a point, a bit annoyed because all sorts of crazy people started writing me and trying to reach me, telling me I need some help either mentally or physically,'' Federer said. ``You're laughing, but it's the way it goes. People come out of the closet and think they can start helping me now. It's just a pain.

``For me, this sort of puts them to rest a little bit and calms down the phones at my parents' a little bit, which I'm happy about.''

While Federer enjoyed a glass of champagne with family and friends inside the locker room, his dad wandered out.

``Maybe you can't win everything,'' Robert Federer said. ``After the French Open, you could see many (negative) comments saying, 'Federer is gone,' 'Federer will never win another Grand Slam.' And Federer proved the opposite.''

Federer won't leave New York with the No. 1 ranking, but the No. 2 seed is still getting the silver trophy, the $1.5 million winner's check and a new Lexus car.

All in all, a nice way to end a season that Federer began with a bout of mononucleosis.

The sixth-seeded Murray went into his first Grand Slam final with a 2-1 record against the Federer. But trying to become the first British man to win the U.S. Open since Fred Perry in 1936, he never had a chance.

``I came up against, in my opinion, the best player ever to play the game,'' Murray said. ``He definitely set the record straight today.''

The 21-year-old Scottish player paid tribute to Federer when they met at the net.

``He told me that it was a great tournament for me. I said that I agreed with everyone that he'd had a terrible year,'' Murray joked.

``Making the semis of Australia, final of the French, the final at Wimbledon _ playing one of the best matches of all-time _ winning an (Olympic doubles) gold medal, and obviously winning the U.S. Open,'' he said. ``I told him that he had a phenomenal year, regardless of what anyone said.''

Federer became the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win this tournament so many times in a row. He's now within one major title of matching Pete Sampras' record 14.

``One thing's for sure,'' Federer said, ``I'm not going to stop at 13. That would be terrible.''

This win also made Federer the only man in tennis history to take five straight titles at two major tournaments.

``It's nice to compare five U.S. Opens to five Wimbledons. Not many _ nobody can do that,'' he said.

Murray was the fifth different opponent Federer had played in the finals at Flushing Meadows during his run. The former U.S. Open junior champion won the opening coin toss and, based on his previous success, chose to let Federer serve first.

Federer won the first game by taking four straight points.

Murray's best chance to stay in the match came in the second set with score tied at 2-2. Down 15-40, Federer hit a shot that looked long, but Murray played on and wound up losing the point.

Murray walked to the spot to see if there was a mark, having lost his chance to call for an instant-replay challenge. A television replay showed the ball was out.

Instead of being up 3-2 and serving, Murray watched Federer rally back to win the game.

``That was key,'' Federer said. ``After that, I began to play freely, the way I usually do.''

By the third set, it was no contest as Federer went up 5-0. Murray won two games and a couple more ovations from the crowd, then it was soon over.

``I don't understand redemption quite that well, but I don't think that's what it is. I don't feel like I needed this win particularly to prove myself,'' Federer said.

``It's just being happy to be on top,'' he said. ``So things are not looking that bad like everybody's talking about.'' -- AP

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