Sixth grand slam for awesome Federer
As an American playing in New York on 9/11, Andre Agassi received an overwhelming majority of support from the 24,797 fans on hand for the US Open men’s final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Unfortunately for the 35-year-old, they could not carry him past the remarkable Roger Federer.
The world number one and top seed from Switzerland became the first man in the Open Era to win Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back in consecutive years with a tough 6-3 2-6 7-6 (7/1) 6-1 triumph over the seventh-seeded Agassi at the National Tennis Center.
Federer broke in the sixth game of the match and held for a 5-2 lead. He got to 0-40 on Agassi’s serve in the eighth game, but the American won five straight points to hold serve.
Federer blew four more set points in the next game before closing it out with an ace.
Agassi broke Federer in the second game of the second set, saved three break points in the next game and broke the Swiss star again in the eighth game to claim the set in 33 minutes.
The veteran again broke for a 4-2 third-set lead, but Federer immediately broke back and held to level the set. After Agassi held for a 5-4 edge, the crowd did the wave.
At 5-5, Agassi saved four break points, the final one on an ace, then held with a service winner and received a standing ovation. But Federer held easily, and after Agassi won the opening point of the tiebreaker, the top seed reeled off seven straight points, claiming the set with a backhand winner down the line off the American’s serve.
Federer carried his momentum into the final set, breaking Agassi in the second and fourth games. He failed to convert two championship points on Agassi’s serve in the sixth game, but it was a mere hiccup as he served out the match at love when Agassi sent a backhand return way long.
As the ball sailed past him, Federer yelled, jumped in the air and swung his arms – racquet in right hand – in one motion, then exchanged a warm greeting with Agassi at the net.
This win means that Federer has improved to a 6-0 win/loss record in Grand Slam finals and extended his ATP Tour-record streak of finals won to 23. He has not lost in a final since Jiri Novak defeated him on clay at Gstaad in July 2003, shortly after he won his first major title at the All England Club.
The 24-year-old Federer beat Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets in last year’s final. He beat the third-seeded Australian in four sets in Saturday’s second semi-final.
It was also a record 35th consecutive hardcourt victory for Federer, breaking by one a mark twice attained by American Pete Sampras, who retired soon after winning his record 14th Grand Slam title here three years ago.
This is the eighth straight time Federer has beaten Agassi, the oldest Grand Slam finalist since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall was routed by Jimmy Connors in the 1974 US Open final.
Federer needed five sets to dispatch the American in last year’s quarter-finals but he did not drop a set in three previous encounters this season, including the Australian Open quarters.
The 1994 and 1999 champion, Agassi had needed five sets to win his last three matches, including Saturday’s semi-final with fellow American Robby Ginepri but, to his credit, did not look tired barely 24 hours later.
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