27-year-old Swiss Roger Federer won his 5th consecutive US Open (and 13th major title over all) by defeating Andy Murray 6-2 7-5 6-2 relatively easily in 1 hour, 51 minutes in a rain delayed Men's Final on Monday afternoon in New York.
Federer silenced critics as he played tennis reminiscent of what we had been seeing routinely from 2004 to 2007 by repeatedly blasting his forehand into the corner of the courts. Twice during the match Federer won at least 6 games in a row (from 2-2 in the first set to 6-2 2-0 in the second and then again from 5-5 in the second set to 5-0 in the third set. The result was really never in doubt. Curiously, Federer fired only 3 aces (and no double faults) thanks to Murray's even more curious (but effective) tactic of receiving serve yards behind the baseline. However, the World #2 also came to the net 44 times, converting 70% of the time.
All in all, the Women's Final won by Serena Williams was longer, more dramatic and more interesting tennis, as the overnight ratings seem to confirm, which are the highest in 6 years for the only grand slam final broadcast in prime time, when Serena beat her sister Venus.
But showing the mens final at 2pm here in LA was not exactly prime time. Only in the east did they even get close to prime time, and that was just as the match ended, meaning a bit before 7pm in NY.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, the champion still played some inspired tennis.
Hallelujah! The classiest guy in the sport with the elegant game got another major and my favorite Scot showed that he is up to top 5 play as well, after a long, BORNG year for me and the men's game, redemption in the Big Apple!
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