Federer takes 12th Slam crown with fourth US Open victory

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NEW YORK, Sept 10 (AFP): Roger Federer captured his 12th Grand Slam crown Sunday by winning his fourth US Open in a row, moving two titles shy of Pete Sampras' all-time record Slam total.
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 trailed in each by a break.
Third seed Djokovic netted a backhand volley to surrender the only break of the final set on Federer's second match point, ending his struggle after two hours 26 minutes as Federer, 26, won his 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, who has won three Slam titles in a year for the third time in four years, matched Roy Emerson for second on the all-time Slam title list behind the 14 of Sampras, moving beyond 11-time Slam winners Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver.
Improving the 12-2 in Slam finals after reaching his record 10th Slam final in a row, Federer won three Slams in a year for the third time in four years. His only defeats have come the Rafael Nadal at the past two French Opens.
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.
"You never do get used to it," Federer said. "It's too nice to be true to be back and win a Grand Slam final."