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Federer snatches lead in U.S. Open final

Posted on: Sunday, 11 September 2005, 17:57 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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