By Niall Clarke
- Novak Djokovic defeats Roger Federer 7-6 (1), (10) 6-7, 6-4, 6-3
- The world number one claims his third Wimbledon title
- He is the first player since Federer (06-07) to defend a Wimbledon title
LONDON, UK- Novak Djokovic battled to defeat Roger Federer in four sets and lift the Wimbledon trophy for a third time.
In a rematch of last year’s final, The world number one needed just under three hours to dispatch his 33 year old opponent in four sets, 7-6 (1), (10) 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 on centre court.
After only being broken once the entire tournament, many people backed Federer to potentially lift his eighth Wimbledon title. Coming in off the back of a marvellous performance against Andy Murray on Friday, The Swiss dealt the first blow by breaking the Djokovic serve at 3-2.
Often referred to as the greatest returner to ever grace the game, the top seed broke straight back and thus achieving what only Gilles Simon before him had done in the entire tournament- breaking the Federer serve.
It inevitably went to a first set tiebreak where Djokovic would take control. The Serbian rattled Federer early on in the breaker and in the end ran away with it 7-1.
The second set was predictably tight with neither player willing to surrender a service game. With nothing to separate them, a second set tiebreak was in order. The first three points went against serve with both Djokovic and Federer making some poor error of judgement as the pressure intensified.
It would be the world number one who started to gain the upper hand, getting to 6-3 and earning three opportunities to go two sets up. Federer would go on to save them, and in a long tiebreaker the Swiss would go on to clinch it 12-10 with some nice play at the net.
With the rain incoming, the two best players in the world fought for the crucial advantage before the inevitable delay. Both fought off break points at the start of the third set, but ultimately Djokovic would find the breakthrough at 1-1. A few games later the rain made its expected appearance which forced the players off the court for a short break.
When the play resumed on centre court, neither Djokovic nor Federer could make any significant inroads on the others serve. The defending champion would then serve out the set to love to crucially take the third set.
Now in the ascendency, Djokovic would take control of proceedings. His reward came at 2-2 in the fourth set as the Serbian managed to break serve. Federer fought valiantly to save himself from going a double break down in his following service game and give himself small hope of an unlikely comeback. Ultimately the top seed would prove too much. Djokovic would break again to claim victory which was cemented by a roar as his forehand wrong footed Federer.
Once again the world number one would triumph on centre court. It was Djokovic’s third Wimbledon title and second consecutive victory at SW19. The 28 year old has responded perfectly from the disappointment at Roland Garros a month ago. For Federer the wait for a record eighth Wimbledon crowd and 18th Grand Slam victory continues.
The next live tennis action will be at Newport before the Davis Cup where Great Britain will face France on the weekend of July 17th-19th.
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