Federer Bakes more Bagels En Route to Madrid Win

The win was Federer’s 10th title of the year, his 43rd of his career, and 12th overall Masters Series victory.

“I played well the entire tournament, didn't drop a set,” said Federer who has won his last 19 matches. “Only got broken once. There's not much I can say about that. I really turned it on when I had to from the semis on. So I'm really, really happy.”

It wasn’t all rosy for the top seeded Federer as Gonzo pushed the Swiss hard in the first set behind an array of winners. Then on Federer’s first set point with Gonzo serving 5-6, the Fed turned his right ankle when the side of his right shoe slipped and rolled as he planted his foot while reaching for a backhand after being slightly wrong-footed. Despite losing the point Federer recovered to win the next three to close out the first set 7-5.

Federer, who tapes his ankles as a precaution before his matches, called the trainer at the conclusion of the set to add extra tape to his right ankle.

The newly-taped Federer then broke for a 3-1 lead in the second, and wound up winning the last 11 games of the match.

“Obviously I tried to jump on top of him in the second set,” Federer said. “He didn't swing his serve any more as hard as he did. I took advantage of that I got into more service games, and I kept up my good work and my own serve. And that put the pressure up on him. And right away it was two sets to love. And then obviously things were getting really difficult for him. He couldn't keep up the pace. I found another gear and played great tennis.”

Gonzalez was making his Masters Series final debut after five semifinal finishes, including three previous semifinals this year.

“It was tough,” said Gonzo, who has never beaten Fed in eight tries. “When Roger is up in the court, he's a good player. Maybe it wasn't my best day, but I couldn't do anything.”

The 26-year-old Gonzalez was playing in his second final of the year, and his second in as many weeks. Last Sunday in Vienna, he finished as runner-up to Ljubicic. The Chilean has won 20 of his past 26 matches and has made it to at least the semifinals in five of his last six events.

“My tennis is getting better and better,” added Gonzo who is 7-7 career in tour finals. “I feel that I can still improve it. That's given me a lot of motivation to continue working.”

Meanwhile for Fed, the records keep piling up. Fed won 11 titles in both 2004 and 2005 and with his 10th on Sunday he becomes the first player in the Open Era to win double digit titles three straight years.

Federer will play three more tournaments this year in Basel, Paris and the Tennis Masters Cup.

“I hope I get over this little issue with my ankle so I can play Basel,” said Fed. “And then I hope that I feel fine also after that tournament so then I can play Paris. That's the plan.”

In the doubles final, race leaders Bob and Mike Bryan denied two-time defending champions Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles a fourth Madrid title in five years when they defeated their rivals 7-5, 6-4 in Sunday's final.

The Bryans, who are attempting to finish as the year-end No. 1 team for the third time in four years, won a tour-best seventh title of the year.

Including their Wimbledon victory - which gave the team a career Grand Slam - the Bryans have won five of their past seven tournaments. During that run they have failed to reach the final just once, losing in the third round of the US Open.

The Bryans were playing their first tournament since the Open.