Federer146;s Perfect 10

It also was the first time that a champion went through a major without dropping a set since the 1980 French Open, when Bjorn Borg did it for the third time. Ken Rosewall, who was sitting in the stands, was the last man to accomplish the feat at the Australian Open, in 1971.

By reaching the final, Federer already had tied Jack Crawford8217;s record of playing in seven consecutive finals at the majors, set in 1934.

While Federer made his two-week blitz look easy, he told fans that a lot of work went into it. 8220;It all works out in the end. It is just wonderful. I have had a great run here again this year,8221; he said, his parents watching from courtside after flying in to watch him for the first time in Australia. I am very proud to be holding this trophy again.8221;

Gonzalez, who fell to 0-10 in his career against Federer, said the Swiss star was simply too good. 8220;I have to congratulate again 8212; again 8212; Roger,8221; the 26-year-old Chilean said. 8220;He is a great champion who played a really good match today, all week 8212; almost all his life.8221;

Gonzalez, seeded 10th and into his first Grand Slam final, kept Federer under pressure with his big forehand, but could not quite match the all-around game of the player who has been ranked No. 1 for 156 consecutive weeks.

He broke Federer in the ninth game, the first breakpoint chance of the match, and had two set points in the next game but failed to convert. Federer broke back to level at 5-5 and then had four set points in the next game before Gonzalez held in a game that went to deuce seven times.

That forced a tiebreaker which Federer dominated, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after winning a challenge against an incorrect baseline call and getting the first point replayed.

Gonzalez, the Olympic doubles champion, had conceded only two points on serve in the second set until Federer broke for a 4-3 lead.

Federer fired an ace to close the second set and broke Gonzalez in the seventh game of the third. He earned triple championship point with a forehand winner and closed it with a backhand down the line. He fell to his back, rolled over and then got up, hit a ball into the stands and took a bow. He held both arms high before throwing his wristband into crowd.

For the match, Federer lost only 17 points in 16 service games plus the tiebreaker, and dropped only two points on serve in the last set.

He finished with 45 winners and only 19 unforced errors 8212; just four in the final set. Gonzalez, who had only three unforced errors against Tommy Haas in the semi-finals, had 28 against Federer to go with 31 winners.