TENNIS – Novak Djokovic lifted the third Wimbledon title and the ninth Grand Slam title of his career after beating Roger Federer in four sets with 7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3. Djokovic ties Federer 20-20 in their 40 head-to-hea dmatches but he leads 2-1 in Grand Slam finals and 7-6 in Grand Slam matches. Diego Sampaolo
Federer, who played his 10th Wimbledon final and his 26th Grand Slam final, held serve to love. Djokovic responded by holding his own serve. Federer earned three break points in the sixth game and broke on his first break point chance for 4-2 as Djokovic made a backhand error. Djokovic brought up two break points and broke back with a backhad pass.
Federer earned a set point opportunity but he did not convert it when he sent a backhand wide. The seven-time Wimbledon champion brought up a second set point but Djokovic saved it with an ace.
Djokovic won the 12th game with an ace forcing the first set to the tie-break. Djokovic stormed out to a 5-1 lead and earned five set points as Federer made a series of errors and converted the first opportunity after 45 minutes as Federer made a double fault.
In the second set Federer could not convert on his two break point chances. Djokovic held his serve for 3-2 on serve. Djokovic earned a set point on Federer’s serve but he failed to convert it when he sent his forehand long. Federer held his serve for 5-5.
Federer earned a break point chance with a forehand error but committed his 20th error of the match and failed to convert it. Djokovic held his serve for 6-5 after a eight-minute game.
Djokovic raced out to a 6-3 lead in the tie-break but Federer saved three set points to draw level to 6-6. Federer earned a set point at 8-7 but Djokovic saved it for 8-8 with a 119 mph ace down the middle. Federer saved a total of set points in the second set to draw level to 10-all. Federer earned a set point at 11-10 when Djokovic made a forehand error and converted it to seal the second set in 66 minutes with a backhand volley.
In the third set Federer brought up a break point chance in the second game but he did not convert it. Djokovic broke serve in the third game for 2-1 as Federer made a forehand error. Federer held his serve for 2-3 before the match was suspended because of rain.
The match resumed after twenty minutes. Djokovic held his serve to love to wrap up the set after 32 minutes. Both players held their serve until the fifth game when Djokovic broke serve for 3-2 when Federer hit a backhand error. Federer fended off two break points to hold his serve in the sixth game.
Djokovic held his serve in the 8th game for 5-3 before breaking Federer for the second time in the fourth set with an inside-out forehand winner on the championship point to seal the win with a forehand winner. Djokovic defended his title won last year against Federer in an epic five-set match with 6-7 6-4 7-6 5-7 6-4.
Djokovic broke Federer four times and saved six of the seven break points he faced.
After the match Djokovic plucked some grass and put it in his mouth
“It tasted very good this year. I don’t know what the groundspeaople have done, but they have done a great job. It’s a little tradition. As a kid, I was dreaming of winning Wimbledon, and as every child, you dream to do something crazy when you actually achieve it, if you achieve it, and that was one of the things”, said Djokovic.
The two tennis legends met for the 40th time in their careers and for the third time at Wimbledon. Djokovic has now drawn level to 20-20. Apart from the 2014 final, Djokovic and Federer met in the 2012 semifinal where Federer prevailed before winning his seventh Wimbledon title.
Djokovic brought his total of Grand Slam titles to nine Trophies.
With today’s triumph at the All-England Club Djokovic equalled his coach Boris Becker who won three times in 1985, 1986 and 1989.
“We managed to find the right chemistry and he has contributed a lot. This is trophy equally as mine”, said Djokovic
“It’s always a great privilege playing against Roger. He has done so much for our sport. He is someone all players from my generation look up to. I was aware coming on that Roger was going to push me to the limits. These particular matches you work all your life for. He makes you push your limits. He makes you work hard and earn every single point. He is not going to hand you the match”, said Djokovic
Federer, who would have become the oldest player to win at Wimbledon in the Open Era and the third oldest player to win a Grand Slam after Ken Rosewall and Andres Gimeno, paid tribute to Djokovic for his consistency during the season. “Novak not only played well the past two weeks, but through the year. I had my chances in the first set. I had my chances in the first set being up a break but I was lucky to win the second set. I feel very hungry and motivated to keep playing. It has been an hour and a privilege to play here but Novak was very good today.
