Federer, Ochoa US Sports Academy Athletes of the Month

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Daphne, Alabama (November 11, 2006) – Swiss tennis star Roger Federer and Mexican LPGA sensation Lorena Ochoa were named Male and Female Athlete of the Month for October by the United States Sports Academy.

Federer was named male Athlete of the Month after winning the Swiss Indoors, Madrid Masters and Japan Open in one month. Madrid was his 10th title of the year, making him the first player in the Open era to win 10 titles in three straight years. He moved ahead of Pete Sampras with his 12th Masters Series title, second only to Andre Agassi's 17.

Ochoa was named female Athlete of the Month after taking a huge step towards winning the LPGA Tour Player of the Year award when she captured the Samsung World Championship, coming from three shots down to defeat Annika Sorenstam by two. Earlier in the month, the Guadalajara native won for the first time in four LPGA Tour starts in Mexico, closing with a 4-under-69 to win the Corona Morelia Championship.

Federer edged out World Series Most Valuable Player, David Eckstein. The St. Louis Cardinal shortstop earned Series MVP honors with clutch hits, consistent defense and by hitting .364 in the series despite in 0-for-11 start. Finishing third in the male balloting was Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who orchestrated his team to a perfect record by completing 98-of-135 passes for 1,070 yards and 10 touchdowns with one interception in four October games.

Ochoa finished ahead of Australian triathlete Michellie Jones of Sydney, who won the women's Ironman Triathlon World Championships in only her fourth Ironman distance race. Chinese gymnast Nan Zhang finished third in the female voting after scoring a 14.8 in an error-free floor exercise routine to help her country win its first World Championship in gymnastics.

The Academy's Athlete of the Month is selected by an international voting committee comprised of former athletes, media, sports organizations and governing bodies. The Athlete of the Month culminates at the end of the year with the Athlete of the Year worldwide vote hosted by USATODAY.com and MSNBC.com. Winners from each Athlete of the Month are automatically added to the Athlete of the Year ballot.