Federer fells Roddick to win third straight US Open

Sep 10, 2006, 23:56 GMT

New York - Rampaging Roger Federer hammered home his 11th victory in a dozen meetings with American Andy Roddick, overcoming the ninth seed 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 Sunday to win a third straight US Open.

The Swiss world number 1 duelled with the 2003 champion in a combative match but exploded at the right moment to seal the win. He won eight of the last nine games and out-aced Roddick 17 to seven in the contest, which lasted more than two and a half hours.

The title marked the ninth at a Grand Slam for the 25-year-old Swiss, fast approaching Pete Sampras' record 14.

Federer became the third man after John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl to win the Flushing Meadows title three years on the trot, with Lendl the last to complete the feat in 1987.

The Swiss also becomes the first man in tennis history to complete the Wimbledon-US Open double for three years running.

Federer has now beaten Roddick in six straight finals. The Swiss claimed the trophy as he dropped only two sets over the fortnight, playing four matches in the last five days due to weather delays.

Federer blasted off to a thundering start, breaking an unsteady Roddick twice for 4-0 and adding a service hold for a 5-0 lead with an ace.

But the American ninth seed, facing his first 6-0 losing set ever in a Grand Slam, began to find his range, putting his first game on the scoreboard for 1-5.

The American earned a break of the Swiss as Federer's backhand landed out, leaving Roddick trailing 2-5. Federer had the last word with a third break of the ninth seed to claim the opener in 29 minutes thanks to 15 winners.

Roddick began the second set with a face-saving break, as his game began to jell with advisor Jimmy Connors watching nervously from the players' box.

The American ran his margin to 2-0 as he began to make an impression of the stylish Swiss king.

That margin held as Roddick lifted his level to make a match of it. Federer rained over his eighth ace of a cloudy afternoon in a hold for 4-5.

But after saving one set point in the next game, the top seed was unable to prevent the popular challenger from squaring the match at a set each after just over an hour.

The Swiss held to start the third set and earned 2-1 with a love game after losing only his second set of the 2006 fortnight.

Federer brought out his heroics in the fifth game, saving four break points and advancing his ace count to 11, more than twice that of his big-hitting opponent.

That game was followed by another monster, with Roddick forced to save five break points through seven deuces to claw to 3-3 on the back of another big serving performance.

Federer's explosive game paid a quick dividend as he put Roddick into trouble with three set points and earned a two-sets-to-one lead as the American scrapped a volley off his shoelaces and into the net after just over two hours.