History, records and the small matter of a Grand Slam title will be on the line when world number one Roger Federer takes on former champion Lleyton Hewitt in the final of the U.S. Open later on Sunday.

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Victory for the top-seeded Swiss will make him the first man to win his first four Grand Slam finals, while he could also become the first man since Swede Mats Wilander in 1988 to land three Grand Slams in the same year.

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A win for Hewitt would give the Australian a second U.S. Open crown, following his victory in 2001, and put him back in the Grand Slam winners' circle for the first time since Wimbledon 2002.

"Now that I'm in the final, I start thinking about it, all the records," Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Federer told reporters.

"I think nobody's ever won four, their first four Grand Slam finals they've played. I have a chance for that.

"There's a lot on the line for me, my final record, which is very good. Then, obviously, it's another Grand Slam. For me to move to four, that would be fantastic, and three (in) the year.

"I hope I can cope with all those things. Plus there's a very tough opponent."

Hewitt won his first three meetings with Federer and still leads the Swiss 7-5 in their head-to-heads. But the top seed is confident of getting the better of the Australian this time round.

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"I've beaten him so there's no more fear, really, just respect towards the great player he is and a great competitor," Federer said.

"He knows how to win this tournament, so it's going to be difficult for me. For me, I want to say I'm the huge favourite, but I think it's quite even."

Victories in Washington and on Long Island made Hewitt the in-form player coming into the event, and six straight-set triumphs at Flushing Meadows have extended his winning streak to 22 matches.

A poor first half of 2003 meant Hewitt lost his world number one ranking but a strong season this year has lifted him back into the top five. With an improved serve and a renewed vigour, he is looking forward to the final.

"I felt confident, obviously, coming in, winning a lot of matches," said the Australian.

"Playing Roger, number one player in the world, I'm going to have to play some great tennis to get on top of him. But I feel like I'm playing well at the moment and I give myself a good chance."

Hewitt beat Federer in the Davis Cup final last year, although the Swiss gained revenge in the fourth round at the Australian Open and in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon.

"Those two matches I felt like I played extremely well," said Hewitt. "I was probably a little unlucky that I drew him in the earlier rounds, round of 16 and a quarter, but I knew I was not far off the mark."