That moved him into sole possession of sixth place on the all-time grand slam list. At just 25, he is now only five majors short of Pete Sampras’ record haul of 14.

Playing in his open era-record sixth consecutive major final, the top-seeded Swiss – who recorded an astonishing 69 winners to just 19 unforced errors – also became the first player in history to win Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back in three consecutive years.

With new friend Tiger Woods – probably his modern golfing equivalent – looking on from his players’ box, Federer stormed to a 5-0 lead in the first set.

That came with breaks in the second and fourth games, and he needed to save a break point in the third too.

Roddick broke Federer in the seventh game but the Swiss master immediately broke back, claiming the opening set when the American netted a forehand.

Roddick made a fantastic start to the second set, breaking Federer at love with a cross-court forehand winner.

He was taken to deuce in the next game but managed to hold, and he maintained the advantage throughout the set, levelling the match when Federer sent a forehand wide in the 10th game.

Federer did not lose a point in his first two service games of the third set but needed to come back from 0-40 hole in his third, saving a total of four break points before holding with an ace for a 3-2 edge.

Roddick made an even more impressive save in the seven-deuce sixth game, erasing five break points and earning a standing ovation.

After Federer held at love for a 6-5 lead, Roddick fell behind 0-40 in the 12th game.

He clawed back one set point with an ace but made an ill-advised trip to the net on the next point and netted a shot at his feet.

Having secured a two-sets-to-one lead, the world’s top player took a comfort break.

The fourth set was a mere formality after Federer broke in the second game when Roddick netted a forehand volley.

The Swiss added an insurance break two games later with an overhead smash, and though he could not convert a match point in the sixth game, Federer closed it out in the next game with another smash.

After hitting the winner, he made a swan dive onto the court in elation.

Possessor of the fastest serve in the sport, Roddick had been broken just five times in his first six matches in New York but lost his serve six times against Federer.

“I think you have got to look at the tournament as a whole,” Federer said at the after-match presentation. “It’s been fantastic, I played great shots all the way through and tonight was the same.

“I’m glad it worked out. It was really difficult against Andy, it is great to see him back at the top and it is always a real joy to play against him.”

On being watched by Woods, who recently won his 12th golfing major at the US PGA Championship, the Swiss added: “We have been trying to meet on several occasions and it never worked out with our schedules.

“He promised to come to the final – so I had some pressure. He came and it is great to see him here, thanks Tiger.”