Wimbledon - Federer takes record with epic win

Eurosport - Mon, 06 Jul 08:00:00 2009

Roger Federer won a record 15th Grand Slam after beating sixth seed Andy Roddick in an epic fifth set 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 in the Wimbledon men's final.

TENNIS 2009 Wimbledon Roger Federer kisses the trophy after sealing sixth SW19 title and record 15th grand slam - 0

Federer's victory was all the more incredible for the fact that he recovered from one set down, and trailed 6-2 in a second set tie-break before he won the next two sets to seize control of a scintillating encounter on Centre Court.

Roddick refused to be denied, and the American fought back against the world number two with ferocious intensity, and clinched the fourth set 6-3 with real conviction.

The fifth set was a positive barrage of aces from the rackets of both players but finally, serving to stay in the match for the 11th time, Roddick was broken as Federer sealed a monumental win.

At 27 years old, Federer has now overhauled Pete Sampras's incredible tally of 14 titles, among which he can count six Wimbledon crowns to surpass Bjorn Borg and Lawrence Doherty's five.

For Roddick, it was a third defeat to the Swiss in finals at the All England Club to follow similar results in 2004 and 2005, and to compound the American's frustration, his nemesis now holds a staggering 19-2 career advantage over him.

The artistry of the Swiss generally trumped the 26-year-old's punch and grit and, in playing in his seventh straight Wimbledon final and record 20th Grand Slam title match, the world number two looked utterly composed.

Both players settled incredibly quickly, finding a good rhythm on serve and looking comfortable in the process, as the first 10 games were rattled through with consummate ease.

Indeed, Roddick did not commit an unforced error until the set was locked at 5-5, despite Federer having sauntered through his service holds in a more serene fashion.

The American was forced to save three break points in his sixth service game, and even had to challenge a line call to save the second, but held his nerve impressively.

Perhaps a touch of complacency set in to Federer's game, as he drilled two erratic forehands wide and long to hand Roddick the crucial break which clinched the first set for the American 7-5, to the crowd's disbelief.

With the second set mimicking the first on the most part, the only game which was not taken with assurance on serve was at 5-5, with Federer double faulting for 30-30, but again he came through unscathed.

Roddick began the second set tie-break with a 143mph ace and, having won 26 out of 31 breakers this season, the American looked invincible as he raced into a 6-2 lead.

The turning point was perhaps an inexplicably mishit backhand volley from the sixth seed, and his four set points slowly and painfully eroded before him as Federer stormed back to clinch the second set with his first opportunity at 8-6.

While Federer proceeded to cruise through his service games at the start of the third set, Roddick was forced to battle valiantly to save a break point at 30-40 in the sixth game, as the Swiss turned the screw.

Roddick showed real resilience in forcing a second tie-break, and this time the roles were reversed as Federer raced into a 5-1 lead, pouncing on two tepid second serves from the American.

The sixth seed clawed his way back into the breaker, and demanded of his opponent that he hold his nerve at 6-5 to serve out for the third set: Federer duly did just that.

Roddick was undeterred by having slipped behind in the match, and broke the Swiss in the fourth game of the fourth set, slamming a backhand down the line to re-exert his authority.

Federer smelt an opportunity after the American had double faulted at 30-30 with a 4-2 lead, but the sixth seed won an epic 21-shot rally with a powerful forehand, and followed it with a booming ace to consolidate his break.

Federer surged into a 0-30 lead with Roddick erring slightly as he served for the fourth set, but the American harried superbly to win an extended rally, and delivered another stunning first serve out wide to take the match into a fifth and final set.

In just the second game of the final set, Roddick continued his unblemished record of saving break points in the match, and rescued a sixth with an emphatic first serve out wide after Federer had won an 18-shot rally with a deft forehand.

Both players refused to compromise on their serves, crunching big deliveries seemingly at will, as Federer unthinkably out-aced his opponent with a count of 50 as the final set coasted along through 6-6 and beyond.

With the set locked at 8-8, Roddick found an exquisite backhand passing shot down the line to prompt two set points, but somehow Federer wrestled his way out of trouble in the manner of an escapologist, holding after deuce.

As both players grew wearier, their impeccable standards finally began to wilt, and two overhit backhands from Roddick handed victory to Federer, his record-breaking victor in the most dramatic manner.

The match was the longest ever men's grand slam final in games, clocking up a total of 77 across five sets, and at 16-14 the fifth set was also a record.

Prior to the final Federer stood, in many people's eyes, on the cusp of ending the perennial debate over whether he is the game's greatest ever player. His record now stands alone.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 392 - 411 of 431

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  1. it never ceases to amaze me when someone reaches the­ highest levels of their sport people always find­ something to bring them down, how about paying tribute­ to a true legend and actually a great person in­ general
    all hail federer.

    From james t, on Mon 6 Jul 9:11AM

  2. I've got to feel sorry for Roddick. He was actually­ the better player in sets 1,2 and 4. He should have won­ all those sets and that would have been it. When it­ went to 5 sets I just knew Federer would outlast him.­ Federer's game is not only brilliant, it also­ requires a lot less effort than Roddick's power­ game. Fed's serves and passing shots were still­ high quality even after 70 games of tennis and probably­ would have been for another 70 games! Roddick could not­ maintain it. He gave the performance of his life and­ still lost so that it is sad to see. I don't think­ he'll ever win it now.

    From Chris, on Mon 6 Jul 8:20AM

  3. It is very hard to see a game from both player's­ view, I wouldn't claim to have done so. Personally­ i was impressed by Roddick's game and I thought­ Federer was playing far below the level of the previous­ matches, making too many simple errors, which on the­ other hand had a lot to do with Roddick's game and­ Federer not playing his own game. It is hard to really­ tell what was what in that match. About the only clear­ sign one could see, was when at 14-15 Boris Becker said­ "Oh my god" referring to Roddick messing with­ the balls before serving for about the third or fourth­ time in the match. It was the definitive sign of­ fatigue. From then on Roddick lost control totally,­ which made way for Federer who hadn't been at that­ level of exhaustion. A marathon that showed the small­ difference between two excellent players.

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Mon 6 Jul 8:19AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met a man who are­ 40­ now on a dating service. he wants to see me and­ even­ have fun with me. but i am 18 now. I don't­ know­ whether i should go to see him. he ever said to­ me that­ all girls on that site ~~ sug ar match­ maker,com~~ are­ seeking fun.. why am not I?

    From sjifguerjg98djio, on Mon 6 Jul 8:12AM

  5. ajpbolton, good to read your posts, simple logic simply­ expressed, it's not harder than that!

    From Casalpusterlengho, on Mon 6 Jul 8:03AM

  6. i'm sick of the comparisons with different eras,­ its impossible to do so the fitness levels are higher­ now, the technology has moved on. you cant argue with­ the record, 15 slams in 6 years, its not federers fault­ that the competition is below his level, i dont think­ it is by the way.

    and yes andrew castle (what did he­ win by the way?) seriously needs replaceing next year,­ some of the things that came out of his mouth where­ none-comments.

    From ajpbolton, on Mon 6 Jul 7:58AM

  7. John McEnroe was the greatest ever. He just wasn't­ that bothered.
    Roddick's performance really­ surprised me though maybe it's a sign that­ Federer's powers
    are waning slightly. After all­ the result was 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 in 2005.

    From Frank, on Mon 6 Jul 7:58AM

  8. Well Done Federer!U have proved to the entire world­ that u are indeed a MASTER of the game. I rejoice with­ u becos u are really a CHAMPION. I know that u will­ still win more grand slams becos u are meant 4 the top.­ Roddick, u played well but the cup was not meant 4 u.

    From Babalola, on Mon 6 Jul 7:57AM

  9. re:to txtblair
    Olympic gold medalist .. I liked that..

    From raed i, on Mon 6 Jul 7:55AM

  10. re:To Zoltán…
    Well.. you proved my point.. he won the­ last three because nadal was NOT there…it is simple as­ that….and you mentioned federer's generation(­ hewitt, haas, safin, blake, davydenko, gonzalez,¬­ nalbandian, roddick, ferrero, ...) with all respect to­ these names but you cannot compare them to (aggasi,­ becker, edberg,lendel, courier, rafter,­ muster…...)those are Sampras generation ….no unbiased­ tennis fan would put federer a head of Sampras let­ alone the greatest ever

    From raed i, on Mon 6 Jul 7:50AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    date r ich men and celebrities, meet your clas sy half­ on _C lassymingle C om_ the place make your dream come­ ture!

    From Luna K, on Mon 6 Jul 7:47AM

  12. Longest singles final by number of games since the­ introduction of the tiebreaker: Yesterday, Roger­ Federer took 77 games to defeat Andy Roddick 5-7,­ 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14, in 4 hours and 17­ minutes.

    Longest singles final by time played: In­ 2008, Rafael Nadal took 4 hours, 48 minutes to defeat­ Roger Federer 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7.

    From Goatlips, on Mon 6 Jul 7:45AM

  13. Federer congra for your incredible achievement.I know­ yu are a great tennis player and you have showed it for­ the last 6 years but the sad thing is that you act like­ a child whenever you play in every tennis game. yu are­ even crying when yu are defeated in some games.for a­ tennis player with 15 grandslam titles, yur envy­ especially to Nadal's performance is very­ disappointing.by the way thank GOD that Nadal is not­ around because he will be the one to crown the­ Wimbeldon title. Unfortunately nadal will come in US­ OPen and show yu that he is indeed the greatest tennis­ player ever

    From Daniel A, on Mon 6 Jul 7:43AM

  14. People still talk of Rafeal Nadal,to he is­ finished.Pple still talk of being better than Roger­ & i ask in wot ways?
    Remember that Roger beat him­ 2006 & 2007 wembledon finals.He only holds an edge­ over Roger only on
    clay court French Open.Roger beat­ Nadal in Madrid Open in April. For a man who has been­ in 26 consecutive semi-finals and 20 consecutive final­ appearances in all competitions,an Olympic Gold­ medalist,5 consecutive wembledon titles,5 consecutive­ US Open titles,3 consecutive Austrialian Open titles,7­ consecutive wembledon finals appearance,60 career­ titles,world number 1 from 2004 till 2008 and has just­ take over again after Nadal managed to hold it for 6­ months,i thinks the records speak for­ themselves...Roger is unarguably the greatest tennis­ player Ever! And mind u he beat Sampras in wembledon­ & beat Agassi in US Open finals!

    From anthony, on Mon 6 Jul 7:43AM

  15. Although I am a big fan of Roger, and think he­ certainly the greatest with all records he broke, but I­ feel for Roddick because he played an amazing­ match..
    Now its not sportsmanship to start calling­ Federer or any other player names and say Roger's­ wife is fat (she is pregnant) I think this is way too­ much and we need to respect all players even though we­ are not fans of theirs

    From Nesreen A, on Mon 6 Jul 7:42AM

  16. well what can i say ? i started to watch tennis in 2004­ Wimbledon, and since the final of that year i m fan of­ Andy Roddick. I always hoped he could win this GS and­ beat Roger Federer, but in previous years it seems like­ he s not going to do it. Yesterday he has another­ chance and again he came up short, although he played­ his best match in years, best against Federer and much­ better than against Murray in SF. Now I only hope this­ loss will help him to become even stronger and one day­ win Wimbledon. If there was no Federer, he might have­ won 3 Wimbledon titles. I think he s one of the few­ players who dont have this title but deserve it, like I­ said, he must keep going and fighting and I believe he­ will get another chance, he s not that old.

    From president.simo, on Mon 6 Jul 7:31AM

  17. Robert
    No. 375

    Ofcourse there are elements of luck in­ winning games...its a no-brainer, for example, in­ soccer a free kick that was off target deflected off a­ defender and goes in could be the decider of the world­ cup, etc etc...I'm not saying this is what happened­ in the final, my point is there were strokes of luck­ from both players, it is part of the game. It was a­ tough match and the better player won. But, I disagree­ with the sentiment that Roger didn't have any lucky­ strokes throughout the match and that it was all hard­ sweat...its proposterous.

    From Dosh, on Mon 6 Jul 7:27AM

  18. Well done Federer and hard luck Roddick. Roddick blew­ it in the second set when he should have won the tie­ break. However you cannot take away his committment and­ endevour. I think he has come along way since when I­ saw him in the 2006 US Open Final. Still I rate him­ better than that JockStrap @#$% MURRY. Murray you are a­ bad loser. Totally disrespectful after the semi final­ lose by not waiting for Roddick, when leaving the­ court.

    From The Watcher, on Mon 6 Jul 7:23AM

  19. Well done to both players on a brilliant game to­ watch!!Comisserations to Roddick,who was very sporting­ in defeat.Congratulations to Federer in breaking such a­ great record in such a short space of time!!
    Now,I­ don't particularly likeFederer as a personality and­ I agree with an earlier post that he's not that­ humble.He did after all describe himself as "this­ great player",during the tournament.But his tennis­ speaks for itself.So,if you've won more Major­ titles than anyone else,in a shorter time than anyone­ else,it makes you the best!!No debate!!

    From jhr881, on Mon 6 Jul 7:22AM

  20. re: raed i (391)
    federer's generation includes:­ hewitt, haas, safin, blake, davydenko, gonzalez,­ nalbandian, roddick, ferrero, ...
    ok, you call it the­ "weakest era of tennis". (in my opinion­ that's "laughable".)
    i suppose now it is­ strong enough for you with djokovic, murray,­ nadal...
    however it is still federer who won 3 out of­ the last 4 majors.

    From Zoltán, on Mon 6 Jul 7:20AM
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