New York - Roger Federer sees no reason to slow his pace
after regaining traction in his race for history with a 13th career
Grand Slam title on Monday at the US Open.
'I'm for sure not going to stop at 13,' said Federer, the world
number two behind Rafael Nadal, after slamming Scotland's Andy Murray
6-2, 7-5, 6-2 in less than two hours in a final delayed a day by
rain.
'That would be terrible. There are a great bunch of guys behind
and in front of me now.'
Victory for Federer came as a huge relief after the Swiss had
stalled in his chase of Pete Sampras' all-time career mark of 14
Grand Slam singles titles.
The New York trophy was his first major in a year and came during
a season of relative disappointment with finals losses to now-world
number one Nadal at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Federer looked reborn after he aborted Murray's attempt to become
the first Briton since Fred Perry 72 years ago to lift a Grand Slam
event.
Life is suddenly good for Federer, with his autumn optimism likely
to carry over into the indoor season after a month off to rest and
train. He is due to play an optional event in four weeks in
Stockholm, followed by an indoor run at Masters events in Madrid and
Paris along with his home tournament in Basel and the season-ending
Masters Cup in Shanghai.
Federer still has work to do in the rankings to take back the top
spot from Nadal, but the future chances of that happening are now
much improved.
Murray will move to a career-best fourth in the world.
'Tennis is in a great place right now,' said Federer, winner of 56
career titles. 'We have incredible athletes and a lot of fair play on
court.
'I love playing the Tour. The crowd make it all worthwhile,' he
told a near-sellout Monday night in New York. 'You make it all
worthwhile. For me to make it all the way here again is an incredible
feeling.
'It's been just super for me.'
Murray's star is on the rise after he upset Nadal in a semi-final
played for two days over the weekend at what the Scot calls his
favourite event.
The 21-year-old has now defeated the world's current top three
players even as Federer levelled their career series at 2-2.
Murray was the third British player to reach a Grand Slam final in
the post-1968 open era, after John Lloyd at the 1977 Australian Open
on grass and Greg Rusedski at the 1997 US Open.
Fred Perry was the last British man to win a Grand Slam title at
the 1936 event in New York.
'I got the better of him the last two times, but today he set the
record straight,' a respectful Murray said of Federer.
'This match shows that I've got a lot of improving to do if I want
to win one of these events. I've played three matches on the Ashe
stadium. It's been the best time of my life.'
Murray said the Open will surely remain his favourite major.
'Since I came here the first time as a junior, I've loved every
minute of it,' he said.
'We got to eat in the same restaurant as the pro players here. I
got to meet (Guillermo) Coria, who was my favor player at the time,'
said the 2004 junior champion, who watched Federer win the first of
his five straight titles at the Ashe stadium.
'Ever since I was 15, 16 years old, I've loved playing here.'
USA
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