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Federer crushes Hewitt in US Open final
(Reuters)
Updated: 2004-09-13 10:29
Roger Federer underlined his position as the world's best player
by demolishing former champion Lleyton Hewitt 6-0 7-6 6-0 to win his first US
Open title on Sunday.
The world number one was close to perfection as
he raced through the first set in 18 minutes, and although Hewitt forced a
tiebreak in the second, Federer stormed through the third to become the first
man in the Open Era to win his first four grand slam finals.
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Roger Federer of Switzerland holds up the U.S. Open trophy after
beating Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in New York September 12, 2004.
Federer defeated Hewitt 6-0 7-6 6-0. |
The Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, who seems
destined to rewrite the tennis record books, is also the first player since
Sweden's Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three grand slams in the same
year.
"I still can't believe what I've done this year, to win three
grand slams out of four is so great and to win the US Open is incredible," said
Federer after collecting the $1 million first prize.
"It's always
very important to play really well in the finals, the matches that count the
most. To win the first set 6-0 was a perfect start," he told
reporters.
In his first US Open final, Federer, 23, was simply
breathtaking as he lost only five points on his way to the opener against a
player who had cruised through to the final without dropping a set.
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC
The match seemed to be running away from
Australian fourth seed Hewitt in record time as he lost his opening serve of the
second set, but he finally registered on the scoreboard after 30 minutes of
one-way traffic.
Suddenly, sensing the match might not be a lost
cause, the 2001 champion reached 30-40 on Federer's serve in the sixth game, but
could only shake his head as his opponent produced three flashing
aces.
Hewitt was hanging on by his fingernails in the next game
when he saved three break points, battling back from 0-40 down to stay in the
set.
Federer showed he was human after all with a few misplaced
groundstrokes and a drop in his first serve accuracy midway through the second
set.
He was lucky to survive a break point at 3-2 when Hewitt ran
him all over the court only to see his attempted backhand winner flick the tape
and land in the tramlines.
But the Australian's efforts were
rewarded in a 13-minute 10th game when he saved three set points before
snatching back a break to level at 5-5 when Federer missed a backhand.
PIVOTAL MOMENT
With Federer showing signs of pressure for the
first time in the match, the tiebreak became the pivotal moment of a glorious
afternoon at Flushing Meadows.
Like a true champion he raised his game
at the right moment, easing into a 6-3 lead before Hewitt dumped a sliced
backhand into the bottom of the net.
From that moment on the final
was little more than an exhibition as Hewitt, for once, ran out of
fight.
Federer produced his full repertoire of shot-making as he
accelerated into a 5-0 lead and collapsed to the court in joy when another
forehand winner completed the fourth grand slam title of his
career.
"It's disappointing but in the first set I didn't have any
real opportunities to get my teeth into the match," said Hewitt, who had won his
two previous grand slam finals.
"But I'd like to congratulate
Roger. It's an incredible effort what he's done this year, to win three grand
slams with the depth there is in the men's game.
"I don't think
people probably realise how hard it is. When he plays like he did today he is in
a different league, he's taken it to another level."
Federer, who
also lifted the 2003 Wimbledon crown, has won four out of the last six grand
slam tournaments, the best performance since Pete Sampras won four of five
between 1993-94.
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