BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Swiss tennis star Roger Federer attained another milestone Sunday, becoming the fifth-youngest to win 50 tournament titles by defeating American James Blake 6-1, 6-4 in the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.

Roger Federer of Switzerland holds the winner's trophy after defeating James Blake of the U.S. in the championship match of the 2007 Cincinnati Masters tennis tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 19, 2007. Federer won ,6-1, 6-4. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    At age 26, he became only the ninth overall in the Open Era — since 1968 — to win so many tournaments.

    "It's not a goal I set for myself in my career, but it's definitely a nice number to get to, especially in terms of titles," Federer said. "It’s really a lot, you know, so it's great."

    Federer struggled early in the week and was pushed to a pair of three-set victories to reach the title match against Blake, 27, playing in only his second Masters Series championship.

    Once Federer got there, he was unbeatable.

    "Just about everything he does is pretty impressive," Blake said. "So, yeah, 50 titles at any age is impressive. Fifty titles at 26 is incredible."

    Bjorn Borg won his 50th title when he was 23 years, 7 months old. Jimmy Connors was four months older when he got to the mark. John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl were 25 when they did it.

    The crystal trophy he received on court will end up in his home in Oberwil, Switzerland, where he has a special room — "It's grown to about office size" — to display those 50-plus mementos. They're kept behind glass "so you don't have to dust them off all the time," Federer explained.

    (Agencies)

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