Federer beats Gasquet in final

World no.1 Roger Federer came from a set down last night to beat Richard Gasquet 2-6 6-3 6-2 in the final of the Toronto Masters for his 40th career title.

While Gasquet had lost all his three previous meetings with Federer this season, including a first round thrashing at Wimbledon, the Frenchman took heart in being a member of an exclusive club of four players to have beaten the Swiss in the last two seasons.

The 20-year-old Gasquet shocked Federer in their first ever meeting in the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo last year joining Rafael Nadal, David Nalbandian and Marat Safin as the only players to beat the Swiss since the start of the 2005 season.

Gasquet was too hot for Federer in the first set yesterday but the latter regained composure to hold his enthusiastic opponent under control in his 17th consecutive tournament final.

Federer has now won 54 successive times on North American hard courts.

On Saturday, Federer battled his way to a 6-1 5-7 6-3 win over Fernando Gonzalez in the semi-finals. Gasquet eliminated Briton Andy Murray 6-2 7-5.