Federer secures 2006 No. 1 ranking

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Roger Federer has locked up his third consecutive ATP No. 1 world ranking and is on pace to break the tour's points record.

Federer, 25, posted a four-set victory Sunday over Andy Roddick to win his third straight U.S. Open championship and run his 2006 match record to 70-5. He won three of tennis' Grand Slam events this year, losing in the finals of the French Open.

The Swiss star has been ranked No. 1 for 137 consecutive weeks, going back to February 2, 2004, and could break Jimmy Connors' record of 160 straight weeks if he can hold onto No. 1 through February 26, 2007.

Federer is the fifth player in the 33-year history of the ATP rankings to finish No. 1 at least three straight years. Pete Sampras holds the record at six consecutive years (1993-98).