Roger Federer wins seventh Wimbledon singles title
WIMBLEDON, England – A Grand Slam title drought did indeed end in Sunday’s historic and riveting Wimbledon final, only it was Roger Federer’s lengthy-for-him gap between trophies that came to a close, rather than Britain’s 76-year wait for a homegrown men’s champion.
Making sure everyone knows he is still as capable as ever of brilliance on a tennis court – particularly one made of grass, and with a roof overhead – Federer came back to beat Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 indoors on Centre Court for a record-tying seventh championship at the All England Club.
“It feels nice,” Federer said, clutching the gold trophy only Pete Sampras has held as many times in the modern era. “It’s like it never left me.”
The victory also increased Federer’s record total to 17 major titles after being stuck on No. 16 for 21/2 years, and clinched a return to the top of the ATP rankings, overtaking Novak Djokovic, after an absence of a little more than two years. Federer’s 286th week at No. 1 ties Sampras for the most in history.
“He doesn’t want to stop now. He knows he’s going to continue to play well and try to break seven, and he could very well end up with eight or nine Wimbledons,” Sampras said in a telephone interview.
After a record seven consecutive Wimbledon finals from 2003-09, winning the first six, Federer lost in the quarterfinals in 2010 and 2011, then wasted two match points and a two-set lead against Djokovic in the U.S. Open semifinals last year, raising questions about whether he might be slipping.
“A couple tough moments for me the last couple years, I guess,” Federer said. “So I really almost didn’t try to picture myself with the trophy or try to think too far ahead, really.”
Murray dropped to 0-4 in Grand Slam finals, three against Federer. Only one other man lost the first four major title matches of his career: Ivan Lendl, now Murray’s coach.
Murray got off to a glorious start. Federer, appearing in his 24th Grand Slam final, appeared the tenser of the two, amazingly enough, and when he sailed a swinging forehand volley long to get broken in the opening game, spectators rose to their feet and waved their Scottish and Union Jack flags.
Murray’s second break helped him take the opening set, and things were even as could be for much of the second, until deuce at 5-5. From there, Federer stepped up, in large part by winning 43 of the 57 points on his serve the rest of the way. He saved all five break points he faced after the first set.
A real key switch happened at 1-all in the third, when a drizzle transformed into heavy showers, causing a 40-minute delay while the retractable cover was moved over the court. The roof was installed before the 2009 tournament; this was its first use for a singles final.
Until then, Federer had won 86 points, Murray 85. Under the roof Federer won 65 points, Murray 52.
“The way the court plays is a bit different,” the fourth-seeded Murray said. “I think he served very well when the roof closed. He served better.”