Federer leaves no doubt

James Blake learned what has become a fact of life on the tennis tour.

“Obviously, we’re all chasing Roger,” he said. “It’s no secret. He’s playing head and shoulders above the rest of us.”

Looking more imposing with every tournament, Roger Federer ended another overpowering season Sunday by routing Blake, 6-0, 6-3, 6-4, for his third Masters Cup title in Shanghai.

The Swiss star has been ranked No. 1 since Feb. 2, 2004, and already has enough points to ensure he’ll break Jimmy Connors’ record of 160 consecutive weeks atop the rankings by the end of February. Only two players (Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray) beat Federer this year.

He finished the season with 12 titles and 16 finals appearances from his 17 tournaments, winning $8.34 million. Already the first player to exceed $7 million in prize money in a season, Federer earned $1.52 million for his unbeaten run in Shanghai.

“To finish it off by winning the Masters Cup, the world championship so to speak, it’s the perfect ending to an incredible season,” Federer said. “There’s not much more I could have done.”

No argument from Blake, who needed 34 minutes to even get on the scoreboard. Blake, however, will finish the year at a career-high No. 4.

Federer, 22-2 in Masters Cups, reached the finals at all four majors this year, and only his loss to Nadal at the French Open deprived him of a season Grand Slam. He finished the year with a 92-5 record and a 29-match winning streak. Connors’ mark is very appealing to him.

“That is definitely one of the big records so far in my career,” he said. “I’m waiting for that date to come along, and then I’ll celebrate it.”

Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi combined for their first Masters Cup doubles title, defeating Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor, 6-2, 6-4.

MISCELLANY

British Columbia takes Grey Cup

Paul McCallum kicked a Grey Cup record-tying six field goals, and the British Columbia Lions defeated the Montreal Alouettes, 25-14, to win the Canadian Football League championship at Winnipeg.

Ian Smart scored a touchdown for the Lions, who had the best regular-season record and won their fifth Grey Cup. It is their first title since beating Montreal in 2000.

McCallum tied the mark that three other kickers share.

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Colt Brennan passed for 402 yards and five touchdowns, and Hawaii rolled to its eighth straight victory by beating San Jose State, 54-17, Saturday night at Honolulu.

Nate Ilaoa returned from an ankle injury and had 100 yards rushing and 66 yards receiving for the Warriors (9-2, 7-1 Western Athletic Conference) who kept alive their hopes for a WAC title. Hawaii, now ranked 25th in the Associated Press poll, needs No. 13 Boise State to lose next week to Nevada for a share of the conference championship.

The Spartans fell to 6-4, 3-3.

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Anni Friesinger of Germany remained unbeaten in five races this year, winning the women’s 1,000 meters in 1 minute 15.53 seconds at the speedskating World Cup in Berlin.

Erben Wennemars of the Netherlands won the men’s 1,000 in 1:08.88. The Netherlands also won both the men’s and women’s team pursuit.

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Katie Hoff was named female athlete of the year and Brendan Hansen was named male athlete of the year at USA Swimming’s Golden Goggle Awards at the Beverly Hilton.

Bob Bowman was named coach of the year and the 2006 breakout performance award went to Cullen Jones. The female performance of the year went to Whitney Myers, and the male performance of the year went to Michael Phelps.

-- Lisa Dillman