U.S. OPEN FINAL Roger Federer keeps his Grand Slam bid alive, gains final with Hewitt

NEW YORK (AP) -- Roger Federer kept up his bid to become the first man since 1988 to win three Grand Slam titles in a year, beating Tim Henman 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 Saturday and cruising into the U.S. Open final against Lleyton Hewitt.
The top-seeded Federer did not let the No. 5 Henman get into his chip-and-charge game, and beat the Briton for only the third time in nine career matches.
"It's not that easy, how it looks," Federer said. "It's tough work, especially against Tim, who puts you under pressure."
Federer can match Mats Wilander's feat from 16 years ago today when he takes on another guy who's given him trouble in the past. Federer is 5-8 overall against Hewitt, but beat him on his way to winning Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
"He's had the most successful summer of all tennis players," Hewitt said
Hewitt played another round of perfect tennis, putting aside his friendship with Joachim Johansson and handling the big Swede's booming serve to breeze 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.
Winning streak
Hewitt has not lost a set in winning six straight matches at Flushing Meadows. No man has won the U.S. Open without dropping a set since Neale Fraser in 1960.
Federer moved into his first Open final with his 16th straight win against a top-10 player.
Federer is 3-0 in Grand Slam title matches, and is trying to become the first man to win his first four tries. Hewitt has won both of his Grand Slam finals, at the 2001 Open and 2002 Wimbledon.
The fourth-seeded Hewitt and No. 28 Johansson had never played for real, though they were plenty familiar with each other. Johansson's longtime girlfriend, Jaslyn, is Hewitt's sister -- not wanting to take sides, she sat upstairs in a private suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium, rather than in either player's private box nearer the court.
"It was the best thing for her to sit up there," Johansson said.
With Hewitt family
Over the past two December breaks, Johansson stayed with the Hewitt family in Australia and played on their backyard court, practicing with Lleyton.
"It's definitely a bit awkward," Hewitt said. "My parents and sister sit in his box all week long."
Asked whom he thought Jaslyn rooted for, Hewitt said, "It has to be her brother." Back in the locker room, Johansson razzed Hewitt.
"He's not going to get me a Christmas present," Hewitt said. "He reckons that was mine today."
While Jaslyn, a 21-year-old player on a lesser pro circuit, was caught in the middle, the match between her 23-year-old brother and 22-year-old boyfriend was no match.
Hewitt won his 16th straight match overall, closing it out with taking the final 12 points. He had only 14 unforced errors after having just 10 in his quarterfinal win over Tommy Haas.