Roger Federer clinched his fifth successive US Open crown and a 13th grand slam title with a 6-2 7-5 6-2 victory over British sixth seed Andy Murray yesterday.
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Roger Federer of Switzerland holds the trophy after beating Andy Murray of Britain for his fifth straight U.S. Open tennis title at Flushing Meadows in New York Sept. 8, 2008. [Xinhua]
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The Swiss second seed breezed through the opening set and held off a Murray fightback in the second before wrapping up victory in one hour 51 minutes.
Federer, beaten twice by the Briton in their first three career meetings, become the first man since American Bill Tilden in 1924 to triumph five times in a row in New York.
The win was Federer's first grand slam title of the year, moving him to within one of the record 14 held by American Pete Sampras.
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Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates match point beating Andy Murray of Britain for his fifth straight U.S. Open tennis title at Flushing Meadows in New York Sept. 8, 2008. [Xinhua]
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Murray, who shocked Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal in four sets in the previous round, had been bidding to become the first British man to win a grand slam since Fred Perry won the US title in 1936.
The sixth-seed Scot, playing in his first grand slam final in blustery conditions on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, saved one break point in the fourth game before holding for 2-2.
Federer held for 3-2 and then broke the 21-year-old in the sixth when Murray hit a forehand wide.
The Swiss looked the more assured early on and his greater aggression helped him to another break in the eighth game when a Murray backhand sailed wide to give him the opening set in 27 minutes.
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Roger Federer (R) of Switzerland holds the trophy for his fifth straight U.S. Open title, as Andy Murray (L) of Britain stands next, after the men's final match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament at Flushing Meadows in New York Sept. 8, 2008. [Xinhua]
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