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Federer beats Youzhny to claim fourth Dubai Open

Top-seeded Roger Federer won the Dubai Open for the fourth time in five years on Saturday, beating Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

Federer won his 41st straight match, tying Bjorn Borg for the fourth-longest streak and leaving him five short of Guillermo Vilas' 1977 record. Ivan Lendl (44 in 1981-82) and John McEnroe (42 in 1984) are also in front of Federer.

"I am on a nice roll right now and I am playing in Indian Wells next," Federer said. "I have won there the last three years, so hopefully I can win again and beat Vilas' record there."

"Records are meant to be broken -- but if I don't, it's all right," he said. "I will start all over again."

His last defeat was to Andy Murray in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters last August.

Federer, who lost in last year's final to Rafael Nadal, extended his record over Youzhny to 9-0. Youzhny, who won in Rotterdam last week, beat Nadal in the quarter-finals.

Youzhny broke Federer in the first game with a crosscourt forehand and held serve to lead 2-0. But Federer broke in the fourth, eighth and 10th games to close out the first set.

"I must admit that Mikhail put a lot of pressure at the start of the match, and I really needed to step up my game," Federer said. "I am delighted that I have managed to win here again."

In the second set, Federer broke in the second and sixth games. He had six championship points at 5-2, but Youzhny saved them all in a marathon game before Federer served it out.

"It was a bit of rough start for me this year, as it always happens with me in Dubai," Federer said. "But I am happy that I saved my best for the last."

Federer has now won seven titles -- including this year's Australian Open -- since last year's US Open.
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