2ND Federer finds more perfection in flawless Australian Open win Bill Scott


dpa German Press Agency
Published: Sunday January 28, 2007

Open win Bill Scott, Melbourne- Roger Federer captured another slice of tennis history on Sunday as he became the first man in nearly three decades to sweep to a Grand Slam title without the loss of a set, claiming a third title at the Australian Open. Not since Bjorn Borg at Roland Garros in 1980 has a player so dominated at a major.

Ken Rosewall, in the audience for Federer's 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-4 hammering of Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, was the last man to go undefeated on sets in Australia when he achieved the feat in 1972.

The 25-year-old Swiss superman claimed his tenth Grand Slam trophy as he races towards to all-time singles mark of 14 titles established by Pete Sampras.

Victory in two hours, 20 minute was Federer's tenth without defeat against Gonzalez, whom he also beat in a pair of finals on succeeding weeks last autumn.

Federer was playing a record-levelling seventh successive Grand Slam final, which equalled Australian Jack Crawford's mark set 73 years ago at 1934 Wimbledon.

Federer becomes the only player to have ever won at least three titles at three different majors - Wimbledon 2003-2006, US Open 2004-2006 and now Melbourne in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Federer fell flat on his back in exhilaration as he slammed over a down-the-line winner of the first of three match points.

"It was great, I had a wonderful tournament," said Federer. "That match point was fantastic. The happiness kicks in a few seconds later and I was really happy."

He now stands a phenomenal 10-1 in Grand Slam finals, his only loss coming against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros last June. His tenth major title moves Federer into joint-fifth place on the all-time Grand Slam title leaderboard. Federer went past Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Fred Perry and Ken Rosewall when he won his ninth major at the 2006 US Open.

Tenth seed Gonzalez got his only look as he earned two set points in the opener. But Federer was merely inspired to save them.

From then, he was all but unstoppable.

"It was a special tournament for me," said Gonzalez, who will return home to play an ATP event in Chile next week. "I've been here three weeks.

"I was happy to be in the final today. But I have to congratulate Roger - again.

"He's a great champion and played a great match, like he's done almost all of his life."

Federer said he stayed calm when Gonzalez made his move in the first set, coming close to lifting the opener.

"I knew he was a tough and dangerous player," said the Swiss. "The way he went through the draw made me wonder what he's been doing differently.

"On those set points, I told myself I had time on my side. He played better than me in the first set until that point.

"I was missing too many forehands and I couldn't deal with his slice, Maybe he was putting me under some pressure.

"This afternoon, I just told myself that I was going there to play my game."

"It's been a long three weeks," said Federer, who will again aim for the elusive season grand slam by winning all four majors in a calendar year. The last to achieve that was Aussie Rod Laver in 1969.

The winner struck 45 winners, limited himself to 19 unforced errors and broke on three of ten chances.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency