Only history stands in Federer's way

NEW YORK -- History is his only opponent, and history, similar to his rivals, doesn't stand much chance. He's the best now. He may be the best ever.

Another Grand Slam for Roger Federer, the young Swiss master, so graceful, so powerful, so successful.

As good as he is, 25-year-old Roger Federer may break Pete Sampras' record of 14 Slam titles. (Getty Images)

Another Grand Slam, nine in all, and with so much tennis to be played, and with so many years remaining in his career, the probability is the 25-year-old Federer will win more than Pete Sampras' record of 14.

The man on the other side of the net this time was the rebounding Andy Roddick, who had regained assurance and picked up a down-the-line backhand, who three years ago won the U.S. Open but Sunday really only was a foil against Federer.

With his 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory in the Open, Federer became the first person ever to double up at Wimbledon and the Open for at least three consecutive years. He's taken Wimbledon the last four years, the Open the last three.

He also has won five of the last six Grand Slams, a loss to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final in June the only imperfection.

When some misguided journalist asked Roddick if Federer was a step above everybody else in tennis, Andy shook his head and said, "That's obvious, isn't it?"

This was followed by a rather illogical observation that it's tough to beat Federer, Andy saying, "We know the answer to that, don't we?"

Absolutely.

He's as tough to beat as golfer Tiger Woods, who with his wife, Elin, was in the Federer viewing box at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"More and more often in the last year or so, I've been kind of compared to Tiger ... so I asked him how it was for him," Federer said. "Many things were similar. He knew exactly how I felt out on the court ... how it feels to be invincible at times.

"We've been trying to meet on several occasions. He promised me to come if I'm in the finals. So I had some pressure."

Pressure is what Federer applies. He has that wicked passing shot, that brilliant backhand and a serve so big that it gets him out of what little trouble he may encounter, a serve that against Roddick was responsible for 17 aces. Andy, a noted server himself, had only seven.