(AFP) – Sep 9, 2007

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Roger Federer captured his 12th Grand Slam crown Sunday by winning his fourth US Open in a row, moving three major titles shy of surpassing the all-time record of 14 Slam wins set by Pete Sampras.

The Swiss world number one defeated Serbian Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 after denying the Slam final debutante on five set-point chances in the first set and two more in the second, having been a break down in each set.

"I played well when I had too," Federer said. "I've played better matches no doubt. A big moment. A lot of pressure for both of us. He made it hard for me in the beginning. All in all, I'm happy with my performance."

Federer, 26, matched Roy Emerson for second on the career Slam title list behind Sampras, surpassing 11-time Slam winners Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver and moving closer to beating Sampras - a goal that more and more occupies his mind.

"I think about it a lot now," Federer said. "To come so close already at my age is so fantastic and I really hope to break it. Don't know (how many). I hope more than Pete."

Shaking off a case of nerves, Federer took advantage of his record 10th Slam final in a row to improve to 12-2 in Slam finals, winning three Slams in a year for the third time in four years, losing only the 2006 and 2007 French Opens.

"It's just hard. It really works you," Federer said of the pressure of a Slam final. "You're like. 'I hope I didn't come all this way to lose.' In the end to win is happiness, relief, all together, it's the best feeling."

Third seed Djokovic netted a backhand volley to surrender the only break of the last set on Federer's second match point, ending the fight after two hours 26 minutes, his last of 40 unforced errors handing Federer a 51st career title.

"Straight sets is a bit brutal for Novak to be honest. He deserved better than that," Federer said. "I told him at the net, 'Keep it up.' He's going to have many more battles like that."

Federer won his fifth Wimbledon in a row in July, six months after taking his third Australian Open in four years, and stretched his US Open title streak to the longest since Bill Tilden won six in a row from 1920 to 1925.

Together with Justine Henin's victory in Saturday's women's final, it marked the first time since 1996 that both US Open singles titles went to top seeds.

The last time Federer lost a US Open match was a fourth-round defeat in the 2003 US Open at the hands of Argentina's David Nalbandian - a run that eclipses the old 27-match US Open Open-era record run of Ivan Lendl from 1985 to 1988.

Federer, in his record 188th week in a row atop the rankings, won a record 2.4 million dollars for the triumph thanks to a one million-dollar bonus from his results in US Open tuneup events.

Djokovic, 20, was undone by his mental mistakes on critical points in his first Grand Slam final.

"I had a lot of chances and I didn't use them," Djokovic said. "He knows how to cope with the pressure. For me this is a new situation. Next time I hope I don't falter."

The Serbian star, who suffered semi-final losses to Rafael Nadal this year at Wimbledon and the French Open, was only 2-of-9 in break-point chances, missing opportunity after opportunity and ultimately unable to stop Federer.

"Roger showed again he is the best. He deserved to win," Djokovic said.

Djokovic broke Federer for a 6-5 lead in the first set after the Swiss star hit two forehands long, then squandered five set points in the 12th game and double faulted a break to set up the tie-breaker

"At this point you have no hopes," Federer said. "It shows you always have a chance. I was surprised I got out of that game but it was key that I won the first set."

Djokovic also double faulted on Federer's second set point of the tie-break.

"I could feel he was really getting tense. He wasn't serving as well," said Federer. "I came through. It's probably because I'm experiecned and confident in my play and take advantage of my chances."

The Serb poured out his frustrations before the second set by dumping the contents of a water bottle in front of his chair.

"That game at 6-5 and 40-0 was really bad for me. I was rushing. I didn't calm down," Djokovic said. "I was thinking some negative thoughts."

Djokovic raced ahead 4-1 in the second set, was broken at love in the seventh game, but battled back for two set points in the 12th game of set two before Federer fought back into the tie-break, winning its last five points.

"Suddenly I just started making these unforced errors," the Serb said. "I was quite nervous and felt a lot of pressure. I knew I had to make some shots, which was a mistake. I had to wait for my chances and I didn't."

Not since Pancho Gonzalez in 1949 had someone lost the first two sets but rallied to win the US Open men's final. Djokovic had three break points on Federer in the fifth game of the third set but again failed to capitalize.

Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »