Fabulous fifth for Federer

In Open, he rolls to another title

NEW YORK - Roger Federer lingered on Arthur Ashe Stadium long enough for the sun to descend, turning from tennis-ball yellow to burnt orange to fire-engine red. He waltzed around the court's perimeter - cradling the US Open chalice like a newborn - chatted with the tournament officials, then made his way over to the courtside boxes, where fans were waiting with programs, hats, and giant tennis balls. He signed every one.

Federer had humbled Andy Murray, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2, winning his fifth consecutive US Open championship yesterday in 1 hour 51 minutes, some 13 minutes less than it took Serena Williams to take the women's crown from Jelena Jankovic the previous evening. Both finals had been delayed by one day because of Saturday's rain.

If Federer didn't spend enough time on court, he was certainly going to relish the moments before he left.

In what may have been the most coveted of his 13 major championships, Federer silenced everyone who had begun to wonder whether the 27-year-old Swiss would win another major tournament. He now goes down in history as the only player to win five straight at two majors, in his case Wimbledon (2003-07) and the US Open.

He is one win away from tying Bill Tilden, who won the US Championship six consecutive times, from 1920-25. Molla Bjurstedt Mallory and Helen Wills Moody won seven US women's titles in the '20s and '30s, but not in succession. Richard Sears won seven straight championships from 1881-87, when the defending champion had to play only one match to retain the title.

Federer also is one major win from tying Pete Sampras's record of 14, a mark many thought would withstand the test of time. Over the course of his five US Open wins, he has beaten five different opponents in the final - including Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and Novak Djokovic, whom he also beat in the semifinals this year.

"I came in here with an Olympic gold medal in doubles and that made me quite confident," said Federer, who said he never doubted himself despite demoralizing losses to Rafael Nadal in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon this year and the fact that he had won just two ATP Tour titles, one on clay and the other on grass. "Maybe I wouldn't have felt this way without the Olympics. But a big part of this is that I was always positive."

Playing in the first major final of his career, Murray wasn't able to rattle the unflappable Federer.

After a shaky first game in which he failed to put a ball in play - and who wouldn't be nervous with 23,000 fans screaming for your opponent? - Murray threw everything he could think of at Federer, from a 131-mile-per-hour serve to searing side-to-side groundstrokes.

But nothing was good enough. Federer, who in the course of seven matches here saw his tennis go from the sublime to the ridiculous, saved his best for last. Testing Murray's nerve and daring him to pass, Federer catapulted himself to the net at every opportunity, winning 31 of 44 points there. Nearly a third of the points the Swiss master won were on volleys. Even when he engaged Murray in baseline rallies, his depth was so great that the Scotsman was forced to play from some 10 feet behind the baseline.

After breaking for 4-2 in the first set, Federer reeled off six straight games to go up, 2-0, in the second. A weak service game allowed Murray back in the set and he nearly went ahead but was denied a break of serve when a Federer forehand was called good on the baseline though a television replay showed it clearly out. But Murray declined to challenge the call and Federer saved three break points to stay on serve. Federer broke to take the second set when Murray tried a desperation drop shot that Federer read perfectly and answered with a forehand down the line.

"He played great today, missed very few balls," said Murray, who won the junior title here as a 17-year-old in 2004, the year Federer won his first US Open. "I wish I could have done a few things better and given myself a few more opportunities. But he didn't give me too many chances."

By the time the third set rolled around, Federer had taken every tool out of his box and put them to use. For five games, Murray basically watched the exhibition. But just as he was on the cusp of the championship at 5-0, Federer faltered, allowing Murray to hold serve and then break, before Federer finally closed out the match when Murray netted a forehand. Federer then performed the perfect celebratory drop-and-roll across the court.

"This is a very special moment in my career," said Federer. "It means the world to me."

Asked if he now thought that 13 was his lucky number, Federer grinned and said, "One thing's for sure, I'm not going to stop at 13; that would be terrible."