Dream year for Federer

NEW YORK: Roger Federer freely admits that he even shocks himself at times.

Speaking after winning the US Open and three Grand Slam events in the same year for the second time in three years, the Swiss star says he never expected to achieve so much.

"I always knew I was talented, I had potential and everything," he said.

"But it's just in a different league now - winning so many.

"I'm shocked myself how well it's been going in the last three, four years, because being not only compared to former great tennis players, but now especially also to other great athletes all over sports."

Federer said that at the start of the year he had tuned over in his mind the possibility of becoming the first man since Australian legend Rod Laver in 1969 to carry off the fabled Grand Slam of tennis - the Australian, French, US Opens and Wimbledon.

He struggled at times in Melbourne in January and was left in tears of relief after finally battling through a tough four setter against Cypriot upstart Marcos Baghdatis in the final.

On to Paris in May and the one Grand Slam title he has yet to win.

Federer reached the final for the first time and briefly looked to be on his way to toppling claycourt king Rafael Nadal.

But the Spaniard's heavy top-spin and relentless defence eventually wore him down and he lost in four sets. Dreams of a Grand Slam were over for another year and Nadal was firmly entrenched as the main challenger to Federer's world crown.

And after cruising into the Wimbledon final in early July, it was Nadal once again who was on the other side of the net.

Federer looked to be heading for an easy win after pocketting the first set 6-0, but Nadal put up a surprisingly gritty challenge before the man from Basel made it four Wimbledon crowns in a row.

With Nadal going out in the fourth round in New York, it was all about defeating American favourites James Blake and Andy Roddick in front of the noisiest and, at times, most partisan crowd in tennis.

Federer achieved that in both cases in four sets and one of the greatest years in the history of tennis was complete.

"I got so close to the Grand Slam - but it's still fantastic," he said of his year.

"I'm happy the Slams are over because it's hard work. There is a lot of pressure. I'm happy to sit back a bit and relax. I'm not thinking of any rival at the moment, it's just really the wins, the great season I've had so far. Four Slams are over and I played fantastic in all of them, so it's all good."

The problem for Federer as always is how does he maintain the excellence and how does he go that one step further and also win the French Open on the slow claycourts of Paris.

Despite the fact that Nadal at just 20 likely has his best years ahead of him and there will be the usual armada of clay specialists from Spain and South America, he feels that he is getting closer.

"This time around, I really believed I could win there (In Paris) too," he said.

"Whereas before, I thought it's too tough, too long, too hard. 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. Nadal there or not. I know I can beat him too because I was so close."

There will be no rest for Federer who is one of the busiest players on the ATP Tour.

He returns to Davis Cup action for Switzerland later this month in a World Group playoff tie against Serbia.

He also plans to play in tournaments in Tokyo, Madrid, his hometown of Basel, Paris and the season-ending Masters in Shanghai.

After that a short break to draw breath and on to Australia and the start of what he hopes will be another historic year.