Federer strolls to first US Open title

The only question now is, how on earth did Roger Federer not win the French Open?

In a dominating performance, the top seed from Switzerland routed fourth seed Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 6–0 7–6 (7/3) 6–0 to win his first US Open and third Grand Slam this year.

Federer, who snapped Hewitt's 16–match winning streak en route to his fourth career major title and the one million US dollars first prize, became the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three grand slams in one year.

The 23–year–old Federer, who beat Hewitt in the quarter–finals of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon en route to both titles, lost to three–time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten in the third round at Roland Garros in June.

Federer, who also won Wimbledon in 2003, became the first man in the Open Era to claim his first four grand slam finals. He is an astounding 64–6 with nine titles in 2004.

Hewitt, the 2001 champion and former world number one, had yet to lose a set in six matches here but dropped the first in 18 minutes. The 23–year–old won just five points to Federer's 24 in the set.

Hewitt holds an 8–6 head–to–head advantage over Federer, but the Swiss star is 4–0 this year.