Roddick back but Roger the best

New York – Marking his ninth career Grand Slam victory, Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Sunday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. He became the first man since Ivan Lendl (1985-87) to win the US Open in three consecutive years. Also, Federer became the only man in tennis history to capture the Wimbledon and the US Open titles three years in a row.

The Swiss superstar won eight of the match's final nine games, including a break of Roddick's serve to avoid a third-set tiebreaker. He managed two more service breaks in the fourth set and finally won over the ninth-seeded Roddick with an overhead smash, raised his arms and fell to the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium in celebration.

“I played great shots all the way, every match, and that was no different tonight,'' Federer said in an on-court interview. “I'm glad it all worked because it was really difficult against Andy. I am happy to see him back at the top."

Tiger Woods, the world's top-ranked golfer, watched the men's final from Federer's box seats. Federer met Woods for the first time beforehand and then set out to impress the golfer with his third major championship this year.

“We've been trying to meet on several occasions,'' Federer said. “He promised to come to the finals, so I had some pressure. I'm happy I made the finals, and I'm glad he came.''

After playing Roger Federer for the championship, Roddick was asked what it feels like to be back at the top of the tennis mountain. “Close to the top, anyway,” Roddick corrected.

The 24-year-old American seemed optimistic as he said, “I leave here excited about where I’m heading right now. With the exception of the last set there, I was in there with him. Maybe I was flirting with it for a little bit.”

Even Federer noticed the difference in Roddick who was defeated at Wimbledon in the 2003 semifinals and 2004 and ’05 finals by him. “The key to his game is always his serve,” Federer said. “He seems more steady off his backhand side than in the past. He plays the percentages a bit better now. I do feel a bit of an improvement since he’s been with Connors.”

It was an apt conclusion to a U.S. Open that's been all about the greats of the game. The opening night saw the tournament’s site being renamed after Billie Jean King followed by Andre Agassi’s farewell show. Then Martina Navratilova retired on Saturday night in the mixed doubles final, which she and Bob Bryan won for Navratilova's 59th career major championship.

"The way Roger plays the game is phenomenal," Navratilova said Sunday, when she was inducted into the U.S. Open's Court of Champions, "but we need more players like him. He's just a genius with the racket."