NEW YORK – Roger Federer owns a dazzling array of shots, a keen court sense and a winning disposition.

He’s also got a pretty good set of ears. And he could hear what the tennis world was saying about him: At 27, his reign at the top was over.

“I was aware of it,” he said.

Whatever, that version of the vulnerable Federer was nowhere to be seen at center court Monday. Instead, the Roger of old returned, overwhelming Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 to win his fifth straight U.S. Open championship and 13th Grand Slam title.

“I felt like I was invincible for a while again,” Federer said.

Federer won his first major title of the year, breezing through three sets without a double-fault and leading 36-16 in winners. He earned nearly half his points at net, a skill he honed while winning the Olympic gold medal in doubles.

When Murray’s final shot landed in the net, Federer fell to his knees on the blue court at Arthur Ashe Stadium and rolled onto his back.

“I always knew that if I were to get one Slam under my belt, especially the last one, things weren’t looking that bad, like everybody was talking about,” he said.

Because, for sure, people were talking. His reaction to all that jabbering?

“Sometimes, to a point, a bit annoyed because all sorts of crazy people started writing me and trying to reach me, telling me I need some help either mentally or physically,” he said. “You’re laughing, but it’s the way it goes. People come out of the closet and think they can start helping me now. It’s just a pain.

“For me, this sort of puts them to rest a little bit and calms down the phones at my parents’ a little bit, which I’m happy about,” the Swiss ace said.