Fabulous Federer makes it four in a row

The Swiss top seed and world number one defeated the emerging Serbian 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to move past Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg and equal Roy Emerson's feat of 12 grand slam titles at the age of 26.

Federer now stands just two short of Pete Sampras's record haul of 14.

Justine Henin's victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova in the previous night's women's final had failed to live up to expectations but despite this also being a straight-sets win, the encounter was an enthralling spectacle.

The first set opened in cracking style as Djokovic took the first two points off Federer's serve. Yet so tight was the contest that that was the last time for 10 games that the server would be behind in a game.

And when Federer served a double fault at the start of 11th game it set in motion the first break as Djokovic moved into a 6-5 lead but the third seed lost his nerve as his opponent saved five set points.

Having blown a golden opportunity, the Serbian's sometimes fragile temper resurfaced during the tie-break as Djokovic first shaped to throw his racquet before checking himself after losing the first point on Federer's serve.

He then admonished himself with a loud yell into a towel as Federer served to 2-2 but Djokovic won a mini-break on the next point as sections of the crowd began to chant his name.

The joy was shortlived, however, as Federer won back the lost point and the 20-year-old this time followed through his earlier instinct and tossed his racquet to the ground.

The next service point was also lost and Federer quickly earned three set points and showed his younger rival how to close a deal by taking the set with the second of those, seven points to four after 55 minutes of play.

It was Djokovic once again who made the first decisive move of the second set, breaking Federer in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead which he consolidated by holding serve to love in the next game.

Yet again, however, the third seed let the more experienced player back into the set with some sloppy shots that allowed Federer to break back to love on serve at 4-3.

At 6-5 up in the second, Djokovic earned two set points, the first of which was rubbed out by a Federer ace. On the next point, Djokovic was denied by fractions as he sent a forehand toward the baseline that was called long.

The Serbian challenged only for the original call to stand and Federer took the set into another tie-break having saved seven set points in the match to that point.

The tie-break, though, saw Federer step up a gear on serve, not needing a second serve as Djokovic struggled to get the ball back. The champion then showed a thumping forehand to give himself four set points and an equally impressive backhand moved him two sets up at the first opportunity.

Djokovic again forced the issue in the third set, moving to 40-15 up in the fifth game and a break point. But he left a Federer forehand he believed to be out only for no out call to follow. He challenged and lost as the electronic review determined the ball clipped the line and once again the Serbian saw his chance slip away.

Federer fought back to hold with an ace that Djokovic used his remaining challenge on to no avail.

At 5-4 down, Djokovic served to save the match but despite some dazzling play he double faulted again at a key moment, this time at deuce, to hand Federer his first match point.

The number three saved it with a great forehand winner but Federer was handed another match point and would not be denied, dropping to the ground in celebration when Djokovic sent the ball into the net.