Dominant Federer says he’s ready to win the Slam

NEW YORK – Dominant and inspirational in equal measure, Swiss maestro Roger Federer snapped up another three grand slam titles in a glittering 2006.

They were the seventh, eighth and ninth grand slam crowns for the 25-year-old, yet vanquished rival Andy Roddick fears the best is yet to come. “I think he’s improving which is scary,” said Roddick, who battled gamely but lost to Federer 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 in Sunday’s US Open final.Federer’s victory over 2003 Open champion Roddick was accomplished without the world number one playing his best tennis for several stretches during the match.The Swiss hit 69 winners and made only 19 unforced errors but his standards are so high many felt he was not at his best.His dominance this year, in which the French Open was the only slam to elude him once again, keeps the question lingering about whether he can win the Grand Slam – Wimbledon plus the Australian, French and U.S.Opens – in one year.It is one of the toughest tasks in sport, a feat no man has accomplished since Rod Laver achieved it in 1969.Federer believes he can do it provided he can tame the slow, red clay of Roland Garros.He reached the French Open final this year but lost to rival Rafael Nadal.”This time around, I really believe I can win,” Federer said after his Open triumph.”Whereas before, I thought it’s too tough, too long, too hard and everything.I doubted myself from the early rounds on.”But now, being so dominant in all the other slams, I know I can win the French, you know? Nadal here or not, I know I could beat him, too, because I was so close.”After reaching the final at Wimbledon, it was expected that claycourt strongman Nadal would challenge Federer at every turn.His quarter-final loss at the Open to Russian Davis Cup player Mikhail Youzhny left the clear impression he is not yet ready to challenge Federer’s dominance, however.Nampa-Reuters”I think he’s improving which is scary,” said Roddick, who battled gamely but lost to Federer 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 in Sunday’s US Open final.Federer’s victory over 2003 Open champion Roddick was accomplished without the world number one playing his best tennis for several stretches during the match.The Swiss hit 69 winners and made only 19 unforced errors but his standards are so high many felt he was not at his best.His dominance this year, in which the French Open was the only slam to elude him once again, keeps the question lingering about whether he can win the Grand Slam – Wimbledon plus the Australian, French and U.S.Opens – in one year.It is one of the toughest tasks in sport, a feat no man has accomplished since Rod Laver achieved it in 1969.Federer believes he can do it provided he can tame the slow, red clay of Roland Garros.He reached the French Open final this year but lost to rival Rafael Nadal.”This time around, I really believe I can win,” Federer said after his Open triumph.”Whereas before, I thought it’s too tough, too long, too hard and everything.I doubted myself from the early rounds on.”But now, being so dominant in all the other slams, I know I can win the French, you know? Nadal here or not, I know I could beat him, too, because I was so close.”After reaching the final at Wimbledon, it was expected that claycourt strongman Nadal would challenge Federer at every turn.His quarter-final loss at the Open to Russian Davis Cup player Mikhail Youzhny left the clear impression he is not yet ready to challenge Federer’s dominance, however.Nampa-Reuters