Federer: King of Australia, gets his 16 GS- Federer triunfa en Australia y obtiene su título 16

El Suizo Roger Federer posa con el trofeo de campeón del Abierto de Australia, el lunes 1 de febrero de 2010.

El suizo Roger Federer se llevó este domingo su cuarto título del Abierto de Australia al vencer al escocés Andy Murray, para extender su récord histórico a 16 títulos grandes y prolongar la mala racha de los tenistas británicos, que no ganan un grand slam hace 74 años.

Federer se llevó el título al ganar 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11) en un partido en el estadio Rod Laver Arena que, más allá del desempate del tercer set, no tuvo el drama y las emociones que abundaron en la derrota del suizo en la final del año pasado ante el entonces número uno Rafael Nadal.

Federer ganó el largo tie break del tercer set en su tercer punto para partido tras sobrevivir a cinco set points a favor de Murray. Ganó el partido en 2 horas, 41 minutos, cuando Murray mandó un revés a la red.

Murray estaba desesperado por ser el primer británico desde Fred Perry en 1936 en llevarse uno de los cuatro títulos más importantes del tenis, pero no tuvo respuesta ante la experiencia sin igual de su rival en finales.

Para Federer, el número uno del mundo, era su 22da final grande y la 18va en las últimas 19.

Murray y Federer se habían enfrentado por última vez en una final en el Abierto de Estados Unidos del 2008, que el suizo se llevó por 6-2, 7-5, 6-2. Esa fue la única oportunidad que había tenido Murray de cortar la mala racha británica.

El año pasado a esta altura, Federer sollozaba cuando Rod Laver le entregó el trofeo de campeón al español Nadal, tras haberse perdido la oportunidad de igualar el récord de 14 torneos grandes de Pete Sampras.

Federer acababa de enterarse que iba a tener mellizas. Se recuperó de esa derrota para llevarse su primer grand slam en arcilla en Roland Garrós y asegurarse al menos un título de cada uno de los cuatro grandes.

El suizo luego volvió a reinar en Wimbledon y, cuando nacieron sus hijas, llegó a su cuarta final grande del año en el Abierto de Estados Unidos, aunque la perdió de manera sorpresiva ante el argentino Juan Martín del Potro.

Federer se aseguró este domingo que esta vez no hubiera sorpresas y agregó el título del 2010 a sus consagraciones del 2004, 2006 y 2007 en Melbourne Park, para ser apenas el quinto varón que gana el torneo cuatro veces.

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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Roger Federer experienced quite a range of emotions these past two Australian Opens.

A year ago, he sobbed on court after losing a thrilling final in five sets.

Federer was all smiles Sunday after rather easily beating Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11) for a fourth championship in Melbourne and 16th Grand Slam title overall.

“All of a sudden, it was over, and it hit me,” Federer said. “It was very much a roller-coaster.”

While Murray missed a chance to end a drought for British men at Grand Slam tournaments that stretches all the way to 1936, Federer became the first Dad to win a major singles title since 2003. He also now can aim at a true, calendar-year Grand Slam, something no man has accomplished since 1969.

“I’m over the moon winning this again,” the 28-year-old Swiss star said. “I played some of my best tennis in my life these last two weeks. It’s also very special—the first Grand Slam as a father.”

Federer had only recently discovered he was to become the father of twins when he lost the Australian Open final in five wrenching sets against rival Rafael Nadal last year, then broke down during the presentation.

This time, Federer was in control of the action pretty much throughout against Murray, and afterward, it was the 22-year-old from Scotland whose voice was breaking and who was choking back tears.

“I can cry like Roger,” Murray said. “It’s just a shame I can’t play like him.”

Federer also credited the likes of Murray and Nadal for helping him lift his game.

“I always knew I had it in my hand. The question is do I have it in my mind and in my legs?” he said. “That’s something I had to work extremely hard at.

“Now I feel, like, obviously I’m being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up. They’ve made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances in a long time, or maybe forever.”

Federer had joked in an on-court interview after his semifinal win over Jo- Wilfried Tsonga to set up the final with Murray that Britain had been searching for a male Grand Slam champion for about 150,000 years. Murray advanced with a quarterfinal win over Nadal, who retired in the third set with a knee injury that will sideline him for four months, and a semifinal victory over Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

On Sunday, Federer said he was just kidding around with his comments about the British wait.

“It’s not an easy thing to do to win your first Grand Slam … It’s just a tough thing,” Federer said, adding for Murray: “His game is so good, I’m convinced he’ll win one.

“He’s extremely strong in his mind. I feel he’s got the game to do it, it’s just a matter of when.”

Federer broke Murray’s serve twice in the opening set and once in the second. Federer rallied from 5-2 down in the third, breaking Murray when he served to push the match into a fourth set.

In the tiebreaker, Federer saved five set points, and wasted two match points, before he converted his third. It was all over in 2 hours, 41 minutes.