Roger Federer made his return to the court a triumphant one, defeating Andy Roddick in straight sets to capture the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters title outside Cincinnati. The top-seeded Federer earned a 6-3, 7-5 victory on Sunday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center for his ninth title of 2005 and became the first player to claim four Masters Series wins in a single season. The world's top-ranked player was playing his first tournament since beating Roddick for the Wimbledon crown in July. The Swiss star now has an 18-match winning streak dating back to a French Open semifinal loss to Rafael Nadal. "I got to get away from these people from the Tour [players, media and photographers]," Federer quipped about his six-week layoff. "It was good to be away, but it's very nice to be back." Federer improved to 10-1 lifetime against Roddick and has a match record this year of an incredible 64-3. He has won his last 22 singles finals since losing to Jiri Novak in the 2003 Gstaad title match. In addition, he is also 29-1 in ATP Masters Series events this year, with his only loss coming to Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals at Monte Carlo, and he improved to 38-1 on the hardcourts in 2005. Federer's last loss on a hardcourt came back in January when he was defeated by big Russian Marat Safin in the Australian Open semifinals. It all adds up to Federer heading into the U.S. Open a week from Monday as the overwhelming favorite. "I'm really happy to be back and looking forward to the Open now," said Federer, who earned a first prize of $400,000 for his 31st career ATP singles crown. Roddick may need the week off heading into the final Grand Slam event of the year after he suffered a foot injury late in the second set Sunday. Trailing 6-5 in the second set, Roddick called for the trainer to have his right foot examined. He had the foot massaged and returned to the court, but could not send the set to a tiebreak. Federer took a quick lead and had two championship points. Roddick staved off one with an ace, but couldn't save the next one. "He was already kicking my butt before [the injury]," Roddick joked after the match. Federer staved off a break point during his first service game and was the beneficiary of a Roddick double-fault on break point in the fifth game, giving the Swiss star a 3-2 lead in the opening set. Roddick again faltered with his serve in the ninth game and Federer took advantage, capturing the first set with an easy volley. In his first five matches of this tournament, Roddick had his serve broken just twice. Federer turned the trick twice in the first set Sunday. Federer, meanwhile, was dominant on his serve, winning 14 straight points late in the first set and early in the second. A couple of poorly played points by Federer gave Roddick a break point chance in the fifth game of the second set and the fifth-seeded American took advantage with a running backhand winner to grab a 3-2 lead. The momentum didn't last long, though, as Federer broke right back in the next game when Roddick netted a backhand volley. Roddick, who won this title in 2003, couldn't dent Federer's serve again and suffered his sixth straight loss in the series. He was trying for his fifth win of 2005, but still claimed a second-place check of $200,000.