By Deutsche Presse-Agentur Sep 9, 2008, 1:06 GMT
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.'
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