Bud Collins

NEW YORK - Just when many in tennis had been talking about Roger Federer in the past tense, he pulls a Roger Federer.

In an inspired "I've-got-something-to-prove" performance, he put to rest all thoughts of what he was and indicated what he still has. He did it by giving Andy Murray a 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 lesson in 1 hour, 50 minutes in the men's U.S. Open final.

With the victory, he moved one win short of Hall of Famer Pete Sampras' record of 14 major titles. Even more fitting, he did it on the day (Sept. 8) Sampras won his last U.S. Open.

For the first time in 21 years, rain moved the men's final from its traditional Sunday showcase to a Monday time slot before the NFL took over primetime viewing. In 1987, Ivan Lendl, appearing in his sixth consecutive final won his third straight title, defeating Mats Wilander. As impressive as this was, Federer put on a better show.

As he had done in the semifinals against Novak Djokovic — also, in very windy conditions on Arthur Ashe Stadium court — Federer began the match serving and took the first game without losing a point. Following the Djokovic formula, he earned an early break and closed out the first set as if Murray was still on the practice court.

In the second, also like the Djokovic affair, he hit a rough patch, but righted the ship and moved into the third set, up 2-0. He stumbled attempting to serve for the championship. Murray, who had held serve after having been down 5-0, broke back, but then Federer regained his balance. When Murray slapped a forehand into the net, he did the Roger roll and exalted.

Five straight!

I said after his win against Djokovic that Federer was playing like the Roger of old, and that was the case again Monday. He was a mathematician, matching 33 unforced errors against 36 winners. More telling was him converting 7-for-10 break-point opportunities and collecting a total of 94 points. Having beat Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, Murray's numbers weren't as impressive. Of course, that's because Federer wasn't allowing him to dictate as he had against the leg-weary Spaniard. Murray's totals were 28 unforced errors, a scant 16 winners and a conversion of 2-for-5 on break opportunities. In short, he earned 68 points for the match.

And yes, after his performance against Juan Martin Del Potro and Nadal, I touted him — but, I also said I never pick a winner — to win. He has carried the "The Next Tim" burden, since Tim Henman, the British standard bearer, retired.

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Murray went into the match as one of only three players, including Dominik Hrabaty and Nadal, with winning career records against Federer. He was also looking to become only the third British player in history, although he is emphatic about being a Scotsman, to win the U.S. title, joining Laurie Doherty (1903) and Fred Perry (1933, 1934 and 1936). I thought he had a chance, but Federer showed why his record is 45-4 and why he has won 35 consecutive matches in New York.

Having set the standard for so long, Federer was supposedly having an off year. Before the tournament, he had won only Estoril and Halle. Overlooked were the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals and his semifinal appearance at the Australian Open, along with the trouble he had recovering from mononucleosis. Also neglected was the Olympic gold medal he won with Stanislas Wawrinka, and the fact that he, along with Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall, is one of three men in tennis history to reach the final of at least three majors three times in their careers.

Murray, playing his fourth U.S. Open, became the third No. 6 seed to reach the final since 2000. Marat Safin surprised Pete Sampras in 2000, and Andre Agassi, another No. 6, lost to Sampras in 2002. Murray's best result in New York had been the round of 16 in 2006. With his New York success, along with winning Cincinnati, he reached a career-high No. 4 ranking Monday. It matched the highest ranking of a British man, a position both Henman and Greg Rusedski realized.

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As far as Murray's future, it is very promising. He played three days in a row and Monday, in front of 23,000 people who wanted Federer to win, he did very well. We will see a lot more of him.

I have to confess, I doubted Federer. I thought he was a step slow and his serve and forehand weren't what they used to be. As it turned out, everything was hidden in the closet.

After his performance Monday, he has three things on his mind. He wants to take back the No. 1 ranking from Nadal. He wants to win his sixth consecutive U.S. title to match Bill Tilden, who was the tournament winner 1920-05. And most importantly, he wants to break Sampras' record of 14 majors.

The legendary Jack Kramer has said a player doesn't really reach his prime until he's 30. Federer's 27, and I agree completely, there's more to come.