U.S. Open Tennis | Federer dominates

NEW YORK — Tennis ownership was an ongoing issue throughout the U.S. Open's two-week run, what with Billie Jean King's name tacked onto the National Tennis Center and the sport's heart given to retiring Andre Agassi.

But when it came down to another men's title match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Roger Federer of Switzerland again demonstrated he is Master of the House.

Sunday's 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory over American Andy Roddick gave Federer ownership of a third consecutive Open championship, a reign accomplished twice since the Open era came to the sport in 1968 (by John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl).

It made Federer the first man in history to win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open titles in the same years three straight times. It put the 25-year-old Federer in a position of power that tennis observers and, frankly, tennis players are finding difficult to comprehend.

Including Federer.

"I'm shocked myself how well it has been going the last three, four years," Federer said of the nine Grand Slam tournaments he has won in the last 14 majors. "Because, being not only compared to former great tennis players, but now, especially also to other great athletes all over sports, it's just really nice."

Roddick, re-establishing himself as a legitimate major-tournament contender, scrambled back from an 0-5 start with a quick service break in the second set before trading blows with Federer throughout the decisive third. Yet it was Federer who served 17 aces (without a double fault) while blunting Roddick's big-serve power (seven aces).

And it was Federer who survived the third set after its fifth and sixth games put on display Roddick's new confidence, improved down-the-line backhand and willingness to attack. In those two games, after Roddick saved four break points, Federer saved five, after going to deuce six times.

Through it all, Federer showed patience. Calm. An ability not only to punch out big winners but also to hit Roddick with combinations of serve, deep cross-court forehand, sliced backhand, lob, drop shot — whatever could get Roddick out of position.

Still neck-and-neck at 5-5 in the third, Federer held his serve at love, then pounced by breaking Roddick to take the set, putting Roddick serves of 128 and 132 mph back in play.

From there, the fourth set went as Federer's career has gone since mid-2003. Federer is five major-tournament titles short of Pete Sampras' record 14. Sunday's ninth major crown put Federer past Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Lendl, Fred Perry and Ken Rosewall.

"It's nice," said Federer, who is 11-1 against Roddick. "I don't want to stop here. I remember being in great company when I reached six, and then seven and eight, the same. There's always such great players on that level. Now I'm left alone at nine. So it feels a bit strange, obviously, because I'm still going. It has been a fantastic season. Winning three Slams [this year], it's unbelievable. Something I've done in '04, but this year I was in the finals of the French as well, so it's really incredible."

As he rolled through this year's Open — almost quietly, at times, because of the fuss over King, Agassi, Martina Navratilova's retirement shortly before her 50th birthday, Roddick's new association with coach Connors — Federer was called "the best athlete of our time, in any sport" by American player James Blake.

Tiger Woods, the world's top-ranked golfer, sat in Federer's box for the final. On Wednesday, Federer said he followed Woods' career and someday hoped to meet him. The two champions are represented by the same agency, and met for the first time Sunday. Woods sat between his wife, Elin Nordegren, and Federer's girlfriend, Mirka Vaurinec, during the match.

Afterward, Federer and Woods cracked open two bottles of champagne in the locker room.

Note

• Nathalie Dechy of France and Vera Zvonareva of Russia won the women's doubles, beating Dinara Safina of Russia and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.