Federer Makes Quick Work of Murray in U.S. Open Final

Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

NEW YORK -- Cringe-worthy statements about Roger Federer's lost aura and tennis' dire need for stars were forcefully rebuffed Monday by the Swiss champion's masterly 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Scotland's Andy Murray for a record fifth consecutive U.S. Open title.

The result made Federer the only man to win two of the four major tournaments (Wimbledon and the Open) five consecutive times. It moved him, at 27, within one of Pete Sampras' standard of 14 major singles championships. It shushed, at least temporarily, the talk that Federer's performances had ceased, within a single year, to be surrounded by the field of subtle, luminous radiation present for his 4 1/2 years as the world's No. 1 player.

The halo effect certainly was back Monday during the first Open final since 1987 to be pushed to the tournament's third Monday by rain. Wearing red and displaying a game far more colorful than the gray-clad, workmanlike Murray, Federer was visually, athletically and spiritually superior throughout the 1-hour, 51-minute match.

At 21, Murray was appearing in his first major final. He was carrying the hopes of Great Britain, which hasn't had a male major tournament winner since Fred Perry's 1936 Wimbledon, and Murray was wearing a Fred Perry-brand tennis shirt and cap, which might have been seen as an omen.

But Federer's shots -- running forehands, delicate drop shots, timely lobs, varieties of slice and topspin -- were almost all perfectly placed, like stones in a Zen garden. Murray countered gamely, producing his own championship-level play through the tense second set.

Only to see Federer keep conjuring delightful winners. In one crucial game alone -- Murray serving at 5-6 in the second -- Federer broke service at love with four suitable-for-framing points: a charging forehand to the open corner, a backhand stab volley down the line, a slam-dunk overhead and a running pass off a Murray drop shot.

It was the kind of show Federer had put on so often during a record 237 weeks with the No. 1 ranking, relinquished only last month to Rafael Nadal, as he shook Murray's windows and rattled his doors before an admiring full house at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

For the first time since 2003, Federer had entered the Open without a major tournament title during the calendar year -- he lost to Novak Djokovic in this year's Australian Open semifinals and to Nadal in both the French and Wimbledon finals -- and was facing a career 1-2 record against Murray.

But Monday, Murray said, "He definitely set the record straight."

By the sixth game, Federer had the first of consecutive breaks on Murray's service games. Even when Murray raised his level of play in the second set, Federer somehow made Murray appear to be in dangerous high-wire act, never offering a loose game to relieve pressure on Murray.

Then, from 5-5 in the second, Federer steamrolled through seven straight games -- winning 10 consecutive points during one run -- to effectively put away the match at 5-0 in the third.

And to win back his good name.

"I guess some players get a kick out ... wanting to prove people wrong and stuff," Federer said. "I'm not that type of person, to go through life wanting to prove myself. I'm past that point. I think that those days were five years ago, maybe. Didn't enjoy those times that much, so I'm very happy I had a sort of more relaxed five years where I could enjoy tennis and not really have to deal with tough situations."

He admitted that "the Pete thing is still very much alive and everything is possible." In the meantime, though, Open No. 5 was "a very special moment in my career. To take this one home is incredible. It means the world to me.

"I really feel that tennis is in a great place right now. Incredible athletes, a lot of fair play."

And undeniable Federer aura.

(c) 2008, Newsday.

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