U.S. Open title quiets Roger Federer's critics

By Max J. Dickstein, amNewYork Sports Editor | mdickstein@am-ny.com

September 10, 2008

Wherever Roger Federer went in Manhattan yesterday -- to the sets of two network morning shows, to a photo op at the observation deck of the Empire State Building -- the Swiss star's fifth U.S. Open trophy was his constant, seven-pound companion.

Federer has a dozen other Grand Slam trophies back home, but after a season of relative disappointment, Federer found that this 13th major title -- and the two-handled, silver prize it came with -- was the perfect tool with which to bring his critics to heel.

Federer's 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 rout of challenger Andy Murray allowed him to sweep aside an insistent new theme of decline which observers had been alloying to Federer's legend following his losses in the Australian Open semifinal and the finals of Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

But 90 minutes after his command performance on Monday night, Federer used his news conference to turn the tables on the press, with 27-year-old tennis professional acting like an editor reworking some rough copy.

One reporter all but asked Federer to write his lead for him.

"If you had to boil down the two weeks you had here," Federer was asked, "do you think the best word is 'redemption'? Or is there a better phrase or word that comes to you?"

Federer was happy to help.

"Well, I don't understand 'redemption' quite that well, but I don't think that's what it is," he said. "I don't feel like I needed this win to prove myself particularly."

Looking at this cheerful champion, the only man to have won five consecutive titles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, it seemed there had never been cause for concern at all.

Murray's greatest achievement in this tournament was his calm, four-set defeat of Federer's nemesis, top-ranked Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, over two storm-interrupted days. But on Monday, Murray seemed bedraggled at times playing for the third straight day.

Playing in his first major final, the 21-year-old Scot lost seven service games and failed to become Britain's first major champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

"He'll only get bigger," Federer said of Murray, who rose to a career-high No. 4 in the ATP rankings on Monday. "I always thought he was a big-match player. Give him the biggest court in the world, he will have no problem handling it."

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U.S. Open title quiets Roger Federer's critics

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