US Open champion Federer earns stripes in front of Tiger (Roundup)

By Bill Scott Sep 11, 2006, 7:41 GMT

Roger Federer (L) of Switzerland shakes hands with Andy Roddick of the United States after Federer defeated him in the men\'s finals of the 2006 US Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York on Sunday 10 September 2006. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

New York - New acquaintance Tiger Woods had a front-row seat Sunday as fellow sports icon Roger Federer made more tennis history by winning a third consecutive US Open title.

The Swiss posted a decisive 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 finals victory, winning the first five games and eight of the last nine in two spirited bursts of championship form to down ninth seed Andy Roddick.

The 25-year-old Swiss lifted his ninth Grand Slam title and became the first man to ever claim the Wimbledon-US Open trophy double for three years running.

Federer becomes the third man after John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl to win three titles on the trot at Flushing Meadows.

He has beaten Roddick in 11 of 12 meetings including six consecutive finals over the local hero, and owns a 28-match win streak against Americans.

Federer spent just over two and a half hours in victory, out- aceing the big-hitting Roddick 17 to seven.

The Swiss produced 68 winners and just 19 unforced errors; he didn't strike even one double-fault.

It was the kind of performance that Woods, winner of his last five events, could appreciate. The golfing great and the tennis dominator met for the first time as they chatted for 20 minutes prior to the late-afternoon match.

'We've been trying to meet on several occasions, but it never worked out due to our schedules,' said Federer after winning his 41st career trophy and improving to 70-5 on the season.

'Tiger promised that he'd come and watch if I was in the final,' said Federer. 'That put some extra pressure on me. But I made the final, and I'm happy he came.'

Despite playing four matches in the closing five days due to rain delays, Federer made it look effortless as he lifted his eighth trophy of the season.

'You have to look at the tournament as a whole. It's been absolutely fantastic. I played some great shots in every match. It was no different tonight. I'm glad this one worked out. It was really difficult against Andy,' he said.

'I'm really happy to see him back at the very, very top. It's a great joy to play against him.'

Federer won his first two Wimbledon titles at the expense of the Roddick, the 2003 New York champion.

Roddick couldn't hang his head after turning his game around this summer under the expert guidance of legend Jimmy Connors.

Since hooking up with the five-time Open champion from the 1970s and '80s, Roddick has won 12 of 13 matches including his first title in 10 months in August at Cincinnati, Ohio.

'I want to thank the crowd,' said Roddick, 25-6 lifetime at the Open. 'It's been a rough year, but this past two weeks of memories make it all worthwhile.'

Federer swept the first five games of the afternoon before Roddick made a match of it, taking the Swiss to the limit to win the second set.

Both men struggled in a pair of monster games midway through the third, with Federer salvaging four break points to hold for 3-2 with an ace and Roddick holding off five break chances over the span of seven deuces for 3-all.

Federer broke open the contest in trademark style as he won seven games out to 5-0 in the fourth.

Roddick saved a match point on serve at 0-5 before crashing to defeat in the next game, as Federer sank to the cement in joy after his overhead winner marked the end of hostilities.