World No 1 Novak Djokovic saved two championship points in Wimbledon’s
longest singles final to retain his title in a thrilling win over world No 2 Roger
Federer.
Roger Federer led Novak Djokovic 8-7 40-15 on his serve in the final set but
the Serb fought back to win 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 13-12 (7-3) in four
hours and 57 minutes.
Novak Djokovic, 32, has won 16 Grand Slams – and four of the last five.
The Swiss said letting slip two championship
points in his Wimbledon final loss to Novak Djokovic was “such an
incredible opportunity missed”.
It is the second time Roger Federer, 37, has been involved in the longest
singles final at Wimbledon – and ended up losing too – after he was beaten by
Rafael Nadal in 2008.
Roger Federer has lost his past five meetings with Novak Djokovic in Grand
Slams, last beating the Serb at Wimbledon in 2012.
He still holds the all-time men’s Grand Slam record of 20 singles titles but
Novak Djokovic now has 16 with Rafael Nadal on 18.
Roger Federer, who during Wimbledon set two new landmarks in winning his 100th match at the championships and his 350th match at a Grand Slam, said holding the record was not what motivated him as a player.
Roger Federer has become the first man to win Wimbledon eight times and extended his record to 19 Grand Slam titles after beating Croatian Marin Cilic.
The 35-year-old Swiss won 6-3 6-1 6-4 as 28-year-old Marin Cilic struggled with a blister on his left foot and broke down in tears during the second set.
Roger Federer, 35, finished the contest in one hour and 41 minutes to claim his first Wimbledon title since 2012.
The No 3 becomes the oldest man in the Open Era to win at the All England Club.
Roger Federer surpasses Pete Sampras and William Renshaw, who won their seventh titles in 2000 and 1889 respectively, with only Martina Navratilova still ahead in terms of Wimbledon singles titles on nine.
Image source Wikimedia
The Swiss has won two of the three Grand Slam titles so far this year, having returned from a six-month break to win the Australian Open in January.
With 19 major titles he extends his lead over Rafael Nadal in the men’s game to four, and now stands joint-fourth on the all-time list with Helen Wills Moody, five behind Margaret Court on 24.
Among his long list of achievements, Roger Federer became the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to win the Wimbledon title without dropping a set.
The tournament favorite from the outset, he was rarely troubled over the course of seven matches, and Marin Cilic was not in the condition to provide a serious test.
Roger Federer was playing in his 11th Wimbledon final and Marin Cilic his first, and the gap in experience showed from the early stages.
Marin Cilic later revealed that it was emotional rather than physical pain at that stage, but he was clearly in some distress and there was little he could do to stop Roger Federer racing into a two-set lead after just 61 minutes.
A medical time-out was taken before the start of the third set and this time strapping and padding applied to Marin Cilic’s left foot.
A first retirement in a men’s singles final since 1911 appeared likely but Marin Cilic struggled on, while Roger Federer probed for the break that would surely end his wait for a Wimbledon title.
Fourteen years on from his first victory, there were signs of nerves when he served for the title for the first time since 2012.
Roger Federer has won this year’s Australian Open final after a thrilling five-set victory over Rafael Nadal.
This is his 18th Grand Slam title and first for five years.
Roger Federer, 35, won 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 to claim his fifth Australian Open title and extend his lead at the top of the all-time men’s major winners’ list.
Rafael Nadal, 30, remains tied in second with Pete Sampras on 14 Grand Slams following his first final since 2014.
Roger Federer’s previous major title came at Wimbledon in 2012.
The Swiss said: “I’ve been coming here for almost 20 years now.
“I’ve always enjoyed it and now my family does too.
“Thanks again for everything, to everybody. I hope to see you next year. If not, this was a wonderful run here and I can’t be more happy to win.”
Image source AP
Roger Federer’s achievement in ending his drought is all the more remarkable given this was his first tournament since last year’s Wimbledon, after which he took the second half of the season off to recover from a knee injury.
He becomes the first man in history to win five or more titles at three different Grand Slam events – five Australian Opens, five US Opens and seven Wimbledons.
Rafael Nadal was also on the way back from injuries that curtailed his 2016 season, but the Spaniard could not improve his winning record against Roger Federer – the Swiss has now won 12 of their 35 matches and three of nine major finals.
Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in four sets to win his second US Open and 10th Grand Slam title.
The world No 1 won 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4 in New York, and will end the year with three of the four tennis majors.
Novak Djokovic, 28, held his nerve in front of a heavily pro-Federer crowd at Flushing Meadows.
Roger Federer, 34, had been hoping to win his 18th major title and first for three years.
In a raucous night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, after the start of play was delayed by more than three hours because of rain, the Swiss looked to have a real chance in the third set.
However, Novak Djokovic broke the Federer serve six times and saved 19 of 23 break points as he battled his way to a 27th win in 28 Grand Slam matches this year.
Novak Djokovic took another step towards joining the very best in history with a 10th major title, moving him within one of Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver in the all-time list.
Defeat by Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final in June means Novak Djokovic was just one win short of completing the first calendar Grand Slam in men’s tennis since Laver in 1969.
“It’s been an incredible season, next to 2011 the best of my life,” said Novak Djokovic.
He won three Grand Slam titles four years ago.
“I’m enjoying this year more than I did any previous one because I’m a husband and a father, and that makes it sweeter.”
Five-time champion Roger Federer was playing his first US Open final since 2009, and drew one of the loudest cheers of the night when he told the crowd: “I’ll see you guys next year.”
Roger Federer said it was “always tough” facing Novak Djokovic, adding: “I think we both walk away from it knowing more about our games and more about each other.
Novak Djokovic has won this year’s Wimbledon title after beating Roger Federer in a thrilling final.
Novak Djokovic, 27, came through 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 5-7 6-4 to win his second Wimbledon and seventh Grand Slam title.
After letting a championship point slip in the fourth set, the Serb won Wimbledon’s first five-set final since 2009.
Novak Djokovic has won this year’s Wimbledon title after beating Roger Federer in a thrilling final
Novak Djokovic had lost his previous three major finals, and will now reclaim the number one ranking from Rafael Nadal.
Roger Federer, 32, had hoped to surpass Pete Sampras with an eighth title and become the oldest winner in modern times.
The Swiss was willed on by much of the 15,000-strong crowd throughout the final, with chants of “Roger! Roger!” ringing around Centre Court when he reeled off five successive games from 5-2 down in the fourth set.
Novak Djokovic recovered his nerve to fend off break points in the decider and clinch a dramatic win after three hours and 56 minutes, before kneeling on the turf and eating some grass – just as he had done after winning in 2011.
Briton Andy Murray battled past Roger Federer in five sets to reach his third Australian Open and sixth Grand Slam final.
Andy Murray, seeded third, will face world number one Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final after beating Roger Federer 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2.
It required a dramatic four hours on Rod Laver Arena, with Andy Murray dominating for the most part but Federer’s brilliance keeping him alive.
Andy Murray served superbly, firing down 21 aces, only for Roger Federer to dominate the two tie-breaks.
And after failing to serve out the match in the fourth set, it looked as though Andy Murray might have missed his chance when it came down to a fifth.
However, just like he did in winning his first major title at the US Open, Andy Murray rose to the occasion in the deciding set and raced away with it.
Roger Federer had needed five sets to win his quarter-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga two days earlier, and he was overpowered this time.
An early break when Roger Federer framed a backhand was enough as Andy Murray rediscovered the potent serving of the early stages, closing it out when Federer sent a forehand long.
The major concern around Andy Murray before the match had been that he had not been tested in five straight-sets wins, but a thumping forehand winner on the second point suggested he was not suffering from a lack of intensity.
Returning superbly, he kept Roger Federer on the back foot from the outset as the Swiss struggled to win any free points on serve.
Andy Murray missed a break point in the opening game and forced another three two games later, grabbing the break with a cross-court forehand at the fifth opportunity.
Roger Federer saw an ace fly past him after fashioning his first chance of the match in game four, and he would not earn another break point until the fourth set.
Andy Murray saw out the opener in 45 minutes and continued to dominate in the second, but Roger Federer at least began to gain a foothold.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion provided enough flashing winners to keep his large following happy and made it to the sanctuary of a tie-break, which he dominated.
Andy Murray battled past Roger Federer in five sets to reach his third Australian Open and sixth Grand Slam final
Two wayward forehands from Andy Murray gave Roger Federer the perfect start and, after being pegged back to 5-5, the Swiss played a magnificent backhand pass after the Scot failed to put away a smash.
The set was his but the momentum did not shift. Andy Murray slapped a forehand wide on an early chance in the third set but visibly geed himself up after a strong hold at 3-2, and moments later broke to love.
Two more thunderous aces took him to the set and restored the lead his play deserved.
Roger Federer was not done, capitalising on a sloppy game from his opponent to move 4-1 up in the third, but when the Briton came storming back to level and then broke for 6-5, the end appeared imminent.
Andy Murray powered his way to 30-0, two points from victory, with a thumping forehand followed by a snarl of satisfaction, only for Roger Federer to ignite the crowd with a blistering backhand winner as he recovered the break and forced a second tie-break.
Again, Andy Murray started poorly, dazed by his missed opportunity, and Roger Federer raced through it to force a deciding set – the first time in his long career that the Swiss had played back-to-back five set matches.
Andy Murray might have been expected to crumble, but just as against Novak Djokovic in New York last September, he played a superb final set.
It was Roger Federer who lost his way, framing a backhand under huge pressure to give up the crucial break in game two, and Andy Murray resumed the serving prowess of earlier as he powered towards the finish line.
A forehand down the line brought up match point on the Federer serve, and the Swiss cracked one final time with a mistimed forehand to send Andy Murray back to the Melbourne final for the third time in four years.
However, just like he did in winning his first major title at the US Open, Andy Murray rose to the occasion in the deciding set and raced away with it.
Andy Murray predicted another physical encounter against defending champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s rematch.
“He is an unbelievable mover so I will need to be ready for the pain, but I hope it is a painful match because that means it will be a good one,” said Andy Murray.
Andy Murray’s bid to win Wimbledon was ended by Roger Federer as the Swiss claimed a record-equalling seventh SW19 triumph and 17th Grand Slam title.
Andy Murray, 25, was aiming to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to lift a major singles trophy.
Roger Federer, 30, won 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court to match the mark set by Pete Sampras and reclaim the world number one ranking.
A tearful Andy Murray has now lost all four of his Grand Slam finals.
Andy Murray was the first Briton to contest the Wimbledon men’s singles final since Bunny Austin in 1938, but fell just short of the ultimate goal.
“Everybody always talks about the pressure of playing at Wimbledon, but it’s not the people watching – they make it incredible,” said Andy Murray in the wake of his defeat.
“There are mixed emotions. Most of them are negative. The reaction from the crowd was great. I felt like I was playing for the nation and I couldn’t quite do it.”
Roger Federer claimed a record-equalling seventh SW19 triumph and 17th Grand Slam title
Roger Federer fully deserved his victory, which not only sees him level Pete Sampras on seven Wimbledon titles, but also secures him a record 286th week as world number one.
He is the second-oldest man to occupy top spot, goes away with a cheque for £1.15 million ($1.85 million) and will head to the Olympics – also being staged at the All England Club – as clear favourite.
Andy Murray, who collects the £575,000 ($920,000) runner-up prize, now shares his coach Ivan Lendl’s unenviable record of losing his first four Grand Slam finals.
Having made poor starts in each of the previous three – all of which ended in straight-sets defeats – Andy Murray knew it was vital to secure the early momentum.
All was going to plan as a couple of pummelling backhands down the line, a tactic many highlighted pre-match, helped Andy Murray break in the opening game and then consolidate the advantage for a 2-0 lead.
Roger Federer looked uneasy with the pace his opponent was setting and began deploying sliced groundstrokes to slow things down.
A majestic backhand landed on the baseline to engineer a break-back point in game four, and he converted it when Andy Murray found the net.
Both men needed to serve their way out of trouble as the pressure mounted and, crucially, Andy Murray produced a sensational volley at his feet to save the second of two break points in a 13-minute game eight.
He then struck with the help of a forehand pass that Roger Federer ducked to avoid being hit – reminiscent of the aggression shown by Lendl during his career – and comfortably served out the first set.
Statistically, Andy Murray actually improved in almost every area during the second, but the key difference was that he could not take his chances.
Whereas Andy Murray converted both break points that came his way in the first set, he let two slip at 2-2 and another two at 4-4.
Roger Federer held for 6-5 before going on the attack, and he came from 40-15 down to level the match with a sensational backhand drop volley.
Heavy rain arrived at at 16:14 BST with Roger Federer 40-0 up in game three of set three, and the prospect of further downpours saw the roof closed.
When play resumed 35 minutes later the Swiss, who destroyed world number one Novak Djokovic indoors on Friday, was vastly superior and put andy Murray under the cosh in a marathon game five.
Andy Murray was reeled in from 40-0, Roger Federer moving to deuce when the Scot took a heavy tumble at the net, and he slipped again before finally succumbing on a sixth break point.
Roger Federer served out with a crunching ace and averted danger early in the fourth set before striking for 4-2 with a cross-court backhand pass.
He wrapped up his first Grand Slam title since the 2010 Australian Open when Murray hooked a forehand into the tramlines.
“This fortnight was a step in the right direction. I won’t go back on the court until my mind is right and I am over the loss,” added Andy Murray of his future plans.
“The Olympics is a special event and I want to make sure I am ready. If I play like I did this week I have a good chance of winning a medal.”
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