Posted on: Sunday, September 12, 2004
Federer, Hewitt in men's final
By Howard Fendrich
Associated Press
NEW YORK — In heat or wind, before a crowd for or against him, facing Andre Agassi's baseline bashing or Tim Henman's get-to-the-net style: When Roger Federer is on his game, it doesn't seem to matter what he has to deal with.
Now Lleyton Hewitt will try to disrupt him.
Associated Press photos "I feel very confident out on the court," Federer said. "It's important that every day, I wake up, I'm 100 percent into tennis and ready to go."
In today's final, Federer will play 2001 Open champion and No. 4 seed Hewitt, who was nearly flawless himself in eliminating No. 28 Joachim Johansson, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. As Hewitt scrambled along the baseline, getting to everything Johansson offered, his sneakers squeaked with each step, sounding like high-pitched bird chirps.
It was the first time since 1986 that no Americans were in the men's semifinals at the U.S. Open.
Only three players have more than five career wins over Federer, and two are Henman (now 6-3 against the Swiss star) and Hewitt (8-5). Asked what weaknesses of Federer's he'll try to exploit, Hewitt said: "I don't know. There's not a lot of them."
The crowds at the Open love an underdog, and Henman got more positive energy yesterday than he normally does at Wimbledon, where he's hounded by the pressure of a nation looking for a British champion.
The fans tried to will him past Federer, who silenced them by conjuring twice as many winners (31) as unforced errors (15). Federer might not hit serves at 150 mph the way Andy Roddick does, but he knows where to place them and how to vary them. He befuddled Henman at the start, winning 12 straight points on serve — only twice in that span did Henman manage to put the ball in play.
Overall, Federer showed off perfectly cut drop shots, stinging passes, volleys, aces, return winners: You name it, he did it.
"I don't think there's anyone who hits the ball like that," said Henman, 0-6 in major semifinals. "If you take Roddick's serve and Agassi's returns and my volleys and Hewitt's speed and tenacity, then you've probably got a good chance against Federer."
Case in point: the eighth game of the match, after the players traded breaks. With Henman serving, Federer displayed unbelievable variety. He flicked a forehand lob that curled over Henman and landed right where the baseline and sideline meet, similar to a momentum-shifting lob he cut through 40 mph wind against Agassi in the quarterfinals.
Then Federer raced to the net behind a deep approach shot, drawing a forehand error from Henman. Federer sealed the break with a forehand passing winner.
"I surprised myself today, what shots I pulled off, because some were at very important moments, and these are the ones that count the most," said Federer, 63-6 in 2004 with a tour-leading eight titles, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon champ, owns a 16-match winning streak. But he lost to the eventual champion at the other three majors this year, including to Federer in Australia and England.
"Playing Roger, I'm going to have to play some great tennis," Hewitt said. "But I feel like I'm playing well at the moment, and I give myself a good chance."
The top-ranked Federer moved within a victory of becoming the first man since 1988 to win three Grand Slam tournaments in a year, beating No. 5 Henman, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, yesterday in the U.S. Open semifinals.
Roger Federer (top), defeated Tim Henman, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, while Lleyton Hewitt (above) beat Joachin Johansson, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3, in yesterday's semifinals.
