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.
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.
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Comment 352 - 371 of 431
CONGRATULATIONS MR. ROGER FEDERER!!! YOU ARE REALLY GREAT AND EXCELLENT...ONCE AGAIN YOU TO THE WORRLD THAT YOU ARE THE BEST....MORE POWER & MORE GRAND SLAMS TO COME...
RE Joebloggs : You'll be telling us next it's the taking part that matters - not the winning. What planet are you on, kid? Roddick blew it. Simple as.
Federer was asleep for the first two sets. Roddick blew his chance. Four set points he ballsed up (literally). It just ain't good enough.
Feel sorry for A-Rod - again! I think we'll remember him more than Fed for this match, though. AT 12-12 you wondered whether they shouldn't call it a draw, or have some 'reserve' tiebreak (up to 11 pts or sth) if they both agreed, cos it was getting ridiculous. I felt FEd could have said sth similar in his interview - OK I won technically, but let's share the cup and plate 6 mths each. Perhaps Roddick should have lightened it up a bit by suggesting that, too? It was all a bit too serious, FEd as usual getting the luck he deserves only by staying calm, but also I thought it unfair he was serving first in the final set (so sudden death for Roddick) when he'd lost the 4th. Hmm. Fed needed to get it over with quicker, as his wife looked as if she would have the baby any minute! Overall, the match I expected, with Roddick seeming the better player except Fed served better, and Andy didn't experiment with his return of serve, kept hitting it back to Fed's forehand down the centre instead of trying for the angles/lines...otherwise, he could and should have won in 3 sets! At the end, the sun and shadow played a part too- difficult. Oh well...a memorable and classic match which nobody really lost.
I know this is random, and I don't want to take anything away from this final, which was just brilliant, but there is a guy by the name of Marat Safin that I would like to include in here. Yes, yes, I know he has only two grand slams, has lost early in tournaments (like this one) many times and that his end is quickly approaching, but his story is one of the biggest, if not the biggest coulda shoulda woulda stories in modern tennis. Had this guy stayed injury free, actually focused more on tennis than girl chasing, he, along with Nadal could have played a big part in keeping this a little more competitive the last six years. Nadal has single handedly kept Federer from making a complete mockery of the men's game the last couple of years, and credit him for that, but Safin was gonna be the other, next 'it' thing along with Fed when Sampras retired, but it never materialized, at least not for the Russian. It's a shame that he will likely only end up with 2 gs and 15 overall titles, as he could have been an all time great player, and possibly the second best player in this era behind Federer, but.... Guys like Safin, Haas, Nalbandian and to some extent Roddick have been way to incosistent in their careers, and that has opened the door to Federer. Perhaps things would be a whole lot different now. But as some of you have stated, you can only beat the guys that you face, not the guys you 'should have faced.' Great tournament for Fed and Roddick though, great final, and should be an exciting hardcourt season.
Mark V - My apologies if I insulted you. Just feel that you are being disrespectful to RF by insinuating that his victory is deminished as a result of being lucky. We can't always have the two best players in the world playing each other in every final.
Robert - no need to insult me. I agree that chance is always a part of any sport. I'm just pointing out the fact that this "chance" was evident in the last two GSs with Nadal being out injured and the other rivals losing early, that's it. Federer still had to take advantage of it and he did. I'll I'm stating this lady luck (which is a part of the game) was on his side, even in this final. Like I said, in the end all that matters is the win, not how you got there.
Mark V - "with all due ignorance" might be a more appropriate start to your comment. Every sport in the world has some aspect of chance in it. RF is no luckier than any other winner. Rafa is an amazing player, but he pays a price for his greatness with a shortened career due to injuries caused by his style of play. Just enjoy the fact that you have been able to witness greatness.
I would like to point out that Andy played the best match of his life and deserves recognition for being the second best US grass player ever after Pete.
A true champion indeed ! RF is undoubdtedly the best ever...not someone who feigns knee injury the moment he finds himself losing. Stay at #2 Nadal, that's your rightful position.
I think that some of the comments above should be withdrawn as they would appear slanderous. Whatever the basis for these thoughts they should be kept to themselves unless they have unequivical proof of the said allegations.
The Federer / Roddick match was superb it was a pity that in this particular match that there could have been a draw. Good luck to both of them in the future.
I agree that the hype and pressure which the media put on Andy Murray should be toned down as I am sure that this in part was what caused him to lose his match against Roddick.
With all due respect to RF, lady luck has been very kind to him over the past 2 GSs. With no Nadal and not having to face a single rival, these last 2 GSs have been virtually handed to him on a silver platter. Even in this final, he was very forturnate that Roddick blew his chance in the 2nd set breaker. If Roddick had won that 2nd set, I'm convinced RF would have lost (Roddick will be thinking about that shanked back hand volley at 6-2 for the rest of his life). But in the end, history only remembers how many GSs you win, not who you played (or didn't) to get them. For that, RF will be regarded from this point on as the GOAT.
this is about Fedex, Nadal would..Murray may..when Fedex was writing History Nadal and Murray were at home playing desperate housewives.
what a fantastic epic encounter. federer deserved every cubic millimeter of that trophy. i feel bad for roddick who had to do an interview of in front of all those people after playing a fantastic match and still coming up short at wimbledon. well done both players, roddick, keep ur head up, ur name will be on that wall in the all england club
I think Andy Murray has improved considerably but the British press need to allow him grow if he is to achieve grandslam success in this game .The enormous spotlight is putting the young lad under too much pressure. As for Reed, He needs to go and watch the match all over again , how can he possibly say that Murray played a better when he played Andy Murray? Murray simply didn't measure up to him in this tournament , that's all. I really can't say if Federer is the greatest tennis player ever, but winning the tournament today , given what Roddick played proves he is no push over and not one that relies on luck.I'm sure Roddick can hold his head high . Although Roddick lost 2day, but he can hold his head high up , he has made a statement , and I believe his time for a grandslam trophy is coming soon. Kudos to them both . It's a pity only only person can win . It could have been any of them, either of them deserved to win. It was really pulsating. For me,d man of the match , if there's anything so called in tennis , is Roddick.
Andy, Andy...you are a bad sport. Y should not let Roger win today...we miss his sulking and crying. Media call him The Greatest...have you miss these gentleman on both side...real LEGEND not Roger.
Yes agree stefi grafs ex is a kiddy fiddler the dirty old buggar
unlucky Roddick, played a great part in a great final.
Wayne I think you've asked the question a lot of people are thinking I myself think that Stefi Grafs ex is probably a "phedo". Probably early 50's and very frustrated and dangerous!
Infact stefi grafs ex, following your many posts and comments on a 15 year old female, are you indeed a phedophille?
Federer, it's not luck it's pure skill how he grows potatoes so fu*ck it.
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