Federer targets sixth US Open

Roger Federer aims to cap his dramatic renaissance by becoming the first man in 87 years to win six US Open titles when the season’s last Grand Slam event takes place from Monday. World number one Federer currently has five New York wins, a mark he shares with US legends Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors, an equal-best performance in the Open era. But the last man to win six was Bill Tilden, who achieved the feat in the strictly amateur days of 1925 before finishing his career with seven in 1929. Having just turned 31, Federer is back at world number one thanks to a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title, his 17th Grand Slam trophy. He was a silver medallist at the Olympics and has six tour titles in total this year, a statistic capped by a record fifth Cincinnati Masters last week where he swept past Novak Djokovic in the final. Federer won his five straight US Open titles between 2004 and 2008 but missed the chance of a sixth in 2009 when he lost a five-set thriller to Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro. Rafael Nadal, missing through injury this year, and Djokovic claimed the 2010 and 2011 editions. “Even though I reached almost all my goals already this year by securing a medal, winning Wimbledon, and getting back to world No. 1, it’s important for me to push forward,” said Federer. His record at the majors remains one of outstanding consistency — he has reached the quarter-finals or better at 33 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. “It’s a completely different atmosphere in New York. The pressure is going to be different,” said Federer, who has scores to settle over the next two weeks. Despite beating Djokovic in Cincinnati, to follow his win over the Serb in the semi-finals at Wimbledon, he is still pained by throwing away a two-sets to love lead and match point in the US Open semi-finals last year against the world number two. Djokovic, the Australian Open winner and defending champion in New York, is hitting form at the right time — his runner-up spot in Cincinnati came on the back of a Toronto Masters triumph seven days earlier. The Serb, five years younger than Federer, is adamant that the key to beating the great Swiss is not to be cowed by his opponent’s reputation.