World number one Roger Federer is seemingly invincible in tournament finals.
The top-seeded Federer won his ATP Tour-record 22nd straight final with a 6-3
7-5 triumph over fifth-seeded American Andy Roddick Western & Southern Financial
Group Masters, a US Open warm-up event.
It was the 18th straight match win for Federer, the reigning US Open champion
who tied Rafael Nadal of Spain for the tour lead with his ninth title of 2005.
Federer, who also beat Roddick in straight sets in the Wimbledon final last
month, has not lost since falling to Nadal in the French Open semi-finals in
June.
"It's a bit of a surprise because I haven't been playing since Wimbledon,"
said Federer.
"But I really started to play fantastic tennis, especially semis and finals,
I thought.
"I'm really, really happy to be back and really looking forward to the Open
now."
Federer is an astonishing 64-3 this year, including 38-1 on hard courts.
His only loss on the surface came to Marat Safin in the Australian Open
semi-finals after holding a match point.
Federer broke Roddick in the fifth game and again in the ninth to easily claim
the opening set.
Roddick, the 2003 champion here, broke Federer in the fifth game of the second
set but the Swiss star immediately broke back.
After Federer held for 6-5, Roddick called for a trainer to work on an injured
right foot.
"I only felt something in my foot at 5-all in the second set, so he was
already kicking my (behind) before that," Roddick said during the trophy
presentation.
"I don't really know what to tell you. Right now I'm going to go off and get
it looked at, and hopefully I'll be OK come New York City."
Following a seven-minute delay, Roddick fell behind on serve, 15-40.
He saved one championship point with an ace but hit a forehand into the net on
the next point.
Federer, who claimed his fourth Masters Series event this year, has won six
straight matches over Roddick and is 10-1 in their all-time series.
"He's a great champion and he carries himself even better off the court,
which is a real credit to our sport, so congratulations," added Roddick.
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