Federer: I want to get a rest

Always so cool, so consistent, so in control of his emotions and his matches, Roger Federer amazingly let the US Open championship slip from his grasp.

Two points from victory against inexperienced, unheralded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, two points from a sixth consecutive title at Flushing Meadows and a record-extending 16th Grand Slam title overall, Federer, quite simply, fell apart on Monday.

Federer went on to win the title at Roland Garros, his first there, to complete a career Grand Slam and tie Pete Sampras' career record of 14 major championships. Federer then broke that mark by collecting No 15 at Wimbledon.

Thanks to del Potro, Federer will have to wait for No 16.

From mid-May until Monday, Federer had been 32-1 with four titles from five tournaments. Aside from the on-court success, Federer's 2009 included getting married and becoming a father - of twins, no less.

Quite a year. Still, one can't help but ponder this: No man has won even three straight major tournaments in a season - much less all four - since Rod Laver's true Grand Slam in 1969. Federer came close this year, his French Open and Wimbledon titles bookended by a five-set loss to Nadal in the Australian Open final and a five-set loss to del Potro in the US Open final.

This US Open was Federer's first Grand Slam event since his daughters were born and he spoke proudly of quickly learning to change diapers and getting used to sleeping less.

"Right now, I'm just tired," he said after his loss. "I want to get a rest."

(Edit:Ruby)