Invincible again? Federer proves a point to himself, critics

Until his triumph in New York, a 6-2 7-5 6-2 win over Briton Andy Murray, fans and pundits alike were predicting Federer8217;s swift demise from the top of the game but the Swiss master had his own analysis on his year to date.

8220;It8217;s better than 2003 when I made the breakthrough and won Wimbledon,8221; a rather fresh-looking Federer told an invited group of journalists on Tuesday despite sleeping for only 20 minutes following his triumph.

8220;I lost in the first round in Paris in 2003 so obviously it8217;s way better. If it8217;s a good, a great or a super year, it doesn8217;t matter for me. I got the grand slam I wanted.

8220;I always say one grand slam a year in my eyes saves a season. That8217;s definitively what it did. But 8216;saving a season8217; doesn8217;t sound right. I proved to myself that I was doing the right things.

8220;I played excellent towards the end of the tournament and it8217;s the first time I felt invincible again for a change.8221;

8220;Winning a fifth US Open is a dream come true. You don8217;t think a player needs five but it does create something incredible for your legacy and makes you very proud,8221; added Federer, the first man since 1924 to win five in a row in the US Open.

While there is no doubting Federer8217;s legacy, he is still irked by the comments made by some former champions, including Swedish great Bjorn Borg, who were ready to write him off after his three-set mauling by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final.

8220;I was quite shocked with what happened at Wimbledon. In Paris everybody was saying I was going to win Paris and then I come to Wimbledon and they are saying basically I8217;m not going to win a thing anymore. I thought that was a bit extreme,8221; said Federer, who suffered from a bout of glandular fever at the start of the season.

FINAL FOE

The Swiss had wanted to silence his critics when, as five-times Wimbledon champion, he reached his sixth consecutive final at the All England Club.

But with his bogeyman Nadal once again as his final foe, many predicted the Spaniard would steal Federer8217;s crown.

Nadal did end Federer8217;s reign but it turned out to be a heart-stopping five-set epic which has since been hailed as the greatest match ever.

Although Federer still finds it hard to accept that he lost, he feels the match achieved one of his life-time ambitions.

8220;I was aware of how incredible the match was. Unfortunately there had to be a winner. From my point of view many left feeling sorry for me instead of being happy for Rafa. Which hurts,8221; said Federer, whose 4-1/2 year stint as world number one was also ended by Nadal last month.

8220;But at the same time Wimbledon was great. I felt tennis went up a notch and that8217;s what I8217;ve been trying to do for five years since I was number one in the world. Trying to get tennis more popular65533; and that Wimbledon final has finally achieved what I have been wanting to.8221;

Other long-term goals include winning a gold medal in singles at the London 2012 Olympics, the Davis Cup for Switzerland and claiming an elusive French Open crown. Having turned 27 last month, Federer feels he has many years to fulfil those dreams and is also keen to test his skills against the future generations in the sport.

8220;I live and breathe tennis. I get away from tennis but subconsciously I always have it right there. It8217;s what I love doing the most that8217;s why I8217;ll do anything for it,8221; said the world number two, who won a doubles gold at the Beijing Games.

8220;I8217;d like to play through as many generations as possible. It8217;s so fascinating to see in golf when the greats are still around to face the juniors. What I8217;m striving for is longevity 8230; and I feel so much better physically today than I ever have.8221;