Federer proves a point to himself and his critics

NEW YORK: When Roger Federer flicks back on his 2008 memoirs he will probably want to read up on his Sept 8 entry before anything else.

After the first eight months produced some memorable, if painful snapshots of his career, he finally rescued what had been a rather lean season by his own high standards by winning a fifth successive US Open trophy on Monday.

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