Federer snatches lead in U.S. Open final

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Champion Roger Federer rallied from a
break down to win the third set 7-6 against seventh seed Andre
Agassi and take a two-sets-to-one lead in the U.S. Open final
on Sunday.

In a match of incredible standard, the world number one
took the first set 6-3 but 35-year-old Agassi stormed back to
level the match 6-2 and then led 4-2 in the third before
Federer rebounded to win the tiebreak 7-1.

Swiss top seed Federer is bidding to become the first man
in the professional era to win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open
in consecutive years.

Agassi, who came through three back-to-back five-set
battles to reach the final, was pipped in the opening set but,
with the crowd roaring him on, held in the opening game of the
second set and then played an almost flawless game to break
Federer for the first time.

An angry Federer forged ahead 40-15 on the American’s serve
but Agassi dug deep to save both break points and then a third
to lead 3-0.

Federer held serve comfortably but Agassi held on to lead
5-2 and then broke Federer again to level the best-of-five-sets
match at one set apiece.

The incredible standard of play was maintained in the third
set as neither man yielded a break point in the first five
games as Agassi led 3-2.

The American, champion in 1994 and 1999, then played a
great game to break Federer and lead 4-2.

The power of Agassi’s groundstrokes was forcing Federer
into mistakes but the top seed showed his class by breaking
back in the next game and then holding to love to level at 4-4.

Agassi, playing outstanding tennis, saved four break points
in the 11th game to lead 6-5 but Federer held comfortably to
force a tiebreak, and then stepped up his game to win it 7-1.