Kuznetsova Powers Past Dementieva in All-Russian US Open Final

Federer, Hewitt Win Through to US Open Final in Straight Sets

The two most dominant players in men's tennis this summer advanced to the final of the US Open Saturday.

Lleyton Hewitt, who has now won 16 matches in a row this summer including titles at Washington and Long Island, took apart the big-serving game of No. 28 seed Joachim "Pim-Pim" Johansson 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Johansson, who took out defending champ Andy Roddick, found Hewitt's return of serve a much tougher prospect.

Also into the final was world No. 1 Roger Federer, who had no problem with No. 5 seed Tim Henman 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, with the Brit's usual net-charging game leaving the Swiss non-nonplussed.

Hewitt managed his emotions in battling down his sister's boyfriend.

"It was a bit awkward for both of us but we just had to put our professional hats on," said Hewitt, who has not dropped a set during the event. "I've been playing well all through the hardcourt season and there's just one match to go now."

One service break in each set was enough for Hewitt to reach his first US Open final since winning in 2001.

"I have been playing well this whole American summer," Hewitt said. "I have played consistently this whole year and the guys that have beaten me have had to play great tennis."

On facing Hewitt, Federer says he is a much better player than past meetings, with Hewitt leading the career head-to-head 7-5. Federer has won all three of their meetings in 2004, on three different surfaces.

"Mentally and physically I'm more stronger to handle him," Federer said. "In the past, I wasn't. I think that makes a big difference now. I've beaten him, there's no more fear. Really, just respect towards the great player he is and a great competitor. I'm looking forward to it. It's a big occasion for both of us. It's going to be interesting to see."

While Hewitt is the underdog, he is not ready to concede.

"Obviously, playing Roger, the No. 1 player in the world, I'm going to have to play some great tennis to get on top of him," Hewitt said. "But I feel like I'm playing well at the moment, and I give myself a good chance."

Federer is attempting to become the first player since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three slam titles in one year.

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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Can't wait to see the U.S. TV ratings on "Super Saturday" at the US Open without any American men or women, that is going to be a body blow to host sponsor CBS Sports...CBS Sports commentator John McEnroe on one of Joachim "Pim-Pim" Johansson's forehands: "No one's every hit a bigger forehand in the history of the men's game, trust me."...That double fault while serving at 6-5 in the third set against Elena Dementieva, how does that stack up for Jennifer Capriati against last year's semifinal choke against a cramping, exhausted Justine Henin-Hardenne? Discuss...CBS' Dick Enberg says Joachim Johansson showed no outward emotion in his match against Andy Roddick? Enberg must have been out to dinner while Johansson was frequently doing his Lleyton Hewitt impression, screaming "C'mon!" and pumping his fist...This is the first time in five years that four different women won singles slam titles on the year...Amelie Mauresmo has followed in Ivan Lendl's footsteps, becoming No. 1 as of Monday without winning a slam title: "It's an immense joy. It has been my objective for the last 21/2 years. To be on the highest platform is fabulous. Hopefully, now the Grand Slams will follow. It's all about building things step by step. This gives me an incentive to work and work." More from Mauresmo via FOX Sports: "The points system has existed for 30 years and it's not for me to criticize it. This is something I want to keep. It has happened for me. I couldn't achieve it before because of injury, but it is something I have searched for. Since losing to (Elena) Dementieva, I had been very tense and impatient. The waiting was terrible. I was obsessed with the world number one place being so close. I didn't see the first two sets of the (Svetlana) Kuznetsova-(Lindsay) Davenport match and when I switched on the television, they were in the final set. At the end, I said: 'That's it, it's happened'. It was my dream for two and a half years. I was very emotional. It hasn't really sunk in yet. I am very proud to be the first Frenchwoman to be number one and I would like to inspire young players and show them it is possible. I can't compare what being number one is like to winning a Grand Slam, but I hope to soon."...Good of USTA President Alan Schwartz to come out and bungle Svetlana Kuznetsova's name on national TV, that looked real good, try and make it look like you follow pro tennis...Elena Dementieva is now 0-2 in slam finals...The ATP announced Saturday that two-time champion Lleyton Hewitt and Argentina's Gaston Gaudio have qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup in Houston: "I went through very difficult moments in the last two years," Gaudio said. "But now, I managed to achieve two of my biggest dreams. I won Roland Garros and now I have qualified for the Masters Cup. I hope I can get there in my best form and fight for something that I would love to win for me, my family and my country." Hewitt qualifies because he is third behind Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, who have already qualified, on the ATP Race Standings. Gaudio qualifies, even though he is currently No. 7 on the race, because he won a slam and cannot finish outside the Top 20 (slam winners get a Masters Cup auto-qualification if in the Top 20)...Tim Henman got ceremonially ripped by The Guardian after losing in the semifinals to Lleyton Hewitt, c'mon, cut Brave Tim some slack, that was a fine effort with the bad back...Roscoe Tanner was sentenced to a year probation for failure to pay child support for a daughter he fathered with a New Jersey woman...Again, before this year, a Russian women had never reached a slam final, now they have three slam titles...Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva both wore black ribbons in memory of the Russian school victims Saturday night, and walked out from the lockerroom wearing caps with "FDNY" and "NYPD" to honor New York's police and firefighters...The last time three women from one country won three slams was 1979 when Americans Barbara Jordan (Australian Open), Chris Evert (French Open) and Tracy Austin (US Open) completed the triumvirate.