23:04 / 12.09.2005
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komentarz (0) | Fantastic Federer Defends US Open Title
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World No. 1 Roger Federer successfully defended his US Open championship and claimed his sixth Grand Slam crown after defeating Andre Agassi in a thrilling final at Flushing Meadows.
The 24-year-old Swiss star completed a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-1 victory in exactly three hours to become the first man since Don Budge in 1937-38 to win back-to-back Wimbledon and US Open titles in consecutive years.
It was Federer’s 10 th ATP title of the season and his 23 rd consecutive victory in a final stretching back to October 2003. Federer’s victory also means he increases his lead in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race to 357 points over Rafael Nadal in second position.
Federer now has won 32 career titles, second most among active players behind Agassi’s 60.
The final was the 11 th meeting between Federer and Agassi, with the Swiss coming into the match having won their last seven encounters. The 35-year-old Agassi, who had won three consecutive five-set matches against Xavier Malisse and fellow Americans James Blake and Robby Ginepri, was appearing in his sixth US Open final having won the title in 1994 and ’99.
Federer, who defeated former US Open champion Lleyton Hewitt for the ninth consecutive time in the semifinals, broke to lead 4-2 in the first set and went on to take it on his eighth set point with his fourth ace of the match. However, Agassi broke Federer’s serve to open up a 2-0 in the second and, backed by a partisan crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium, went on to level the match by breaking Federer again in the eighth game of the set.
The American, playing in his 20 th consecutive US Open, broke Federer for the third time in the match to lead 4-2 in the third set but failed to capitalize on his advantage as the Swiss immediately broke back in the next game. The set went to a tie-break, where Federer raised his game to take it 7-1.
Despite saving two championship points on his own serve, Agassi could do little to stop Federer holding his own serve to complete another famous victory and become the first player to defend the US Open title since Patrick Rafter in 1998.
It was Federer’s 35 th consecutive victory on hard courts – topping Pete Sampras’ record of 34 – and improved his hard court record in 2005 to an ATP-best 45-1. He also extends his win-loss record in the season to an incredible 71-3.
Agassi, who was attempting to claim his ninth Grand Slam title, became the oldest player to reach a Grand Slam final since Ken Rosewall reached the US Open final in 1974 at age 39. It was only Agassi’s second loss in 18 matches on the North American hard court circuit, having won the title in Los Angeles and reaching the final of the Rogers Cup in Montreal (l. to Nadal). His victory over Ginepri in the semifinals was his 77 th at the US Open, the second highest in the Open Era behind Jimmy Connors’ 98.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Federer: "[It's] the most special one for me, to play Andre in the final of the US Open. Still maybe one of the only living legends in tennis we still have…to play him in this situation, him being towards the end of his career, me being on the top of my game, and getting the chance to play him on such an occasion, that's what I meant with it being really special today.
"He's given me many nice compliments over the years, so I really appreciate that. I'm amazed I could hang with him throughout the last few years with him. He got me a few times early in my career where he made me look like a little schoolboy. Now that I could turn it around, it's for me fantastic. So sort of we can have an even battle. It's really nice. I look up to him because he's been around for so long, and for his results. So a lot of respect from my side."
Agassi: "It's disappointing to lose, but the first thing you have to assess is why did you lose and I just lost to a guy that's better. I mean, there's only so long you can deny it. But he's the best I've ever played against. There's nowhere to go. There's nothing to do except hit fairways, hit greens and make putts. I mean, every shot has that sort of urgency on it. And if you do what you're supposed to do, you feel like it gives you a chance to win the point. That's just too good.
"I'm unsure about what I'm going to do in a month, let alone a year from now. But as of now, my intention is to keep working and keep doing what it is I do. [The] only thing better than the last 20 years will be the last 21 years.
"He's the only guy I've ever played against where you hold serve to go 1-0 and you're thinking, 'All right, good'. And I'm not just making fun of it, I'm literally telling you the way it is. He can hurt you at any point. You're serving 30-Love, he wins the point. It's 30-15, the pressure you feel at 30-15 is different than anybody else. So there's a sense of urgency on every point, on every shot. It's an incredible challenge.
"He's lost three times. He's probably won 70? Yeah, he's definitely beatable…I just don't like those odds.
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