That certainly is true: He reached the semifinals at the Australian Open and the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.

And yet, Federer acknowledged Tuesday, he did feel a need to win this particular U.S. Open. Not because he harbored doubts about whether he could. But because, rather, he wondered whether he approached this trying year properly.

“Maybe I proved to myself that I was doing the right things, and that the season was difficult and tough for me and that I maybe did pick the right schedule,” he said. “I have energy left at the end of the trip. I definitely came out here fresh. I’m still fresh today. I’m very happy with what my decision-making was.”

He also is pleased to be heading into 2009 on a positive note.

No more “What’s wrong with Roger?” questions.

“It’s the end of the year, it’s the last Grand Slam. He didn’t have a bad year, but for his standards, not as good as he would have liked,” Federer’s part-time coach, Jose Higueras, said outside the locker room after Monday night’s champagne celebration. “It’s a great thing going into next year. It gives him a lot of hope to get ready for next season, and I think it’s a great feeling for him.”

Might not be the greatest feeling for the rest of the tour, though.

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