IN WINNING his 15th Grand Slam title yesterday on Centre Court, Roger Federer has stepped into a tennis world of his own. Many had regarded the Swiss player as the most graceful champion to have lifted a racquet but in moving beyond the 14 titles that he and American Pete Sampras jointly held, Federer created his own piece of history.
The 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 victory over American Andy Roddick for what was Federer’s sixth Wimbledon title, took four hours and 16 minutes and also broke the record for the most games played in a Wimbledon final.
“It was an unbelievable match, an unbelievable end. My head is still spinning,” said Federer after wards. But the crowd were also hugely supportive of his opponant and chanted “Roddick, Roddick” as he sat disconsolate and drained after an epic battle of power play and serving.
The final set alone stretched for 30 games and took one hour and 35 minutes to complete, longer than the entire woman’s final. By then both players had begun to wilt under the strain.
But it was Federer whose mental strength and body lasted. His endurance allowed him hold his own service in the 29th game of the fifth set and then break Roddick’s serve to win the match. Federer uncharacteristically leapt in the air as his opponent miss-hit a forehand on match point and the ball spun high and out of the court.
In the absence of last year’s champion, Rafa Nadal, Federer was the heavy favourite going into the Centre Court battle. Seven-times Wimbledon winner Pete Sampras flew in just to see Federer take the record, while former champions Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver also witnessed the masterful Swiss player claim the record and title.
“Sorry, Pete,” said Roddick looking up to Sampras in the Royal Box. “I tried to hold him.”