TORONTO (Ticker) - Andy Roddick still can't solve Roger Federer. The world's No. 1 player, Federer beat world No. 2 Roddick for the seventh time in eight career meetings, 7-5, 6-3, on Sunday to win the $2.5 million Tennis Masters Series/Toronto.
Federer, the top seed from Switzerland, ran his winning streak to 23 matches - the longest on the ATP Tour since a 24-match run by Pete Sampras in 1999. Federer is an incredible 57-4 this year, including 29-2 on hard courts. Federer, who won $410,500, clinched his eighth title of the year, the most on tour since Thomas Muster won 12 in 1995.
Among his victories are the Australian Open and Wimbledon. "I feel like every time I step on the court, there is a chance I might lose, especially against Andy becasue everybody knows he has got a lot of strengths in his game more and more," Federer said.
Federer, who has won his last 10 finals, had 32 winners and just 15 unforced errors, while the American Roddick had 22 and 28, respectively. The Swiss also held a 14-4 edge in aces, converted 2-of-9 break chances and saved all four of Roddick's break opportunities.
"You are starting to become very, very annoying," Roddick joked to Federer during the post-match trophy presentation. "I think in the future we will play many, many more great matches and I'm sure you'll get your fair share," Federer responded.
Federer became the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1979 to win consecutive tournaments on three different surfaces, having captured Wimbledon (grass), Gstaad (clay) and Toronto (hard). "I think everyone on the tour knows how difficult it is to actually just win, you know, (on) a few surfaces in one year and I have done it all back-to-back, so that's just incredible," Federer said.
In the eighth game of the second set, Federer won the first three points on Roddick's serve. The American won the next two but Federer earned the break with a forehand winner, then let out a primal scream. He closed out the match on his serve with a backhand winner. Roddick had won 21 of his last 22 matches, with his lone loss to Federer in the final at Wimbledon.
Roddick, who reached the final here the last three years, failed to become the first repeat champion in Canada since Andre Agassi in 1994-95. "I just have to find answers," Roddick said. "I mean, it is frustrating but I still feel like I am getting better. You knock on the door enough times, hopefully it'll open."