Federer Chalks Up 50th Tourney Win

Top-ranked tennis ace Roger Federer yesterday won his 50th tournament, becoming the fifth-youngest player to do so and the ninth since 1968. He beat James Blake 6-1, 6-4 at the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters in Ohio yesterday. The match is a prelude to this summer's US Open, which Federer is poised to dominate for the fourth consecutive year.

Federer , 26, has now posted 35 consecutive defeats of American players. Yesterday's match was routine for the superstar. After breaking Blake's serve early, Federer dominated with a solid first-serve that kept the American on his heels. When asked about his achievement, the reserved master admitted the had reached "a very special number."