It’s been quite a turnaround for Federer from a year ago, when his run of five consecutive Wimbledon titles was snapped — along with his aura of invincibility — by Spaniard Rafael Nadal in a classic final that ended in near darkness at 9-7 in the fifth set.
With Sunday’s triumph, Federer reclaimed the No. 1 ranking he surrendered last August to Nadal, who missed this year’s tournament because of knee problems.
“Of course, I would have loved to play him again,” Federer said. “You never know how he would have played. He had the injury. I’m happy at least I became No. 1 in the world by winning the tournament, not just by him not playing at all. It’s supposed to be that you win big matches, big tournaments. That’s how you get back to [No. 1].”
Some people were writing off Federer after he lost to Nadal in the Australian Open final in January and broke down in tears.
Federer continued to struggle early in the season before winning the French Open. Now he’s the third man in 40 years to win the French and Wimbledon in the same year, joining Borg and Nadal.
“This year is crazy,” Federer said. “Things didn’t look so good when I lost in the final of the Australian Open, which was still just an unbelievable result. But to come through and battle back and win Paris and now Wimbledon back-to-back, something Bjorn did a couple of times, it’s amazing.”
Playing in his record 20th Grand Slam final and sixth in a row, Federer beat Roddick for the third time in the Wimbledon championship match, adding to his victories in 2004 and 2005.
He extended his overall mastery over the American to 19-2, including 8-0 at Grand Slams.
“He’s a true champion,” said Roddick, the 2003 US Open winner. “He deserves everything he gets.”
Turning to Sampras, he said, “Sorry, Pete. I tried to hold him off.”
Roddick later withdrew from the US Davis Cup team’s quarter-final at Croatia, citing a right hip flexor injury. The US Tennis Association announced yesterday that he would be replaced by Mardy Fish.
The statistics in the final were astounding: Federer’s 50 aces were one short of the Wimbledon match record held by Ivo Karlovic.
Federer had a total of 107 winners, compared with 38 unforced errors. Roddick had 27 aces, 74 winners and 33 unforced mistakes.
The match started to turn Federer’s way when he saved four break points in the second-set tiebreaker. Down 2-6, he ran off six straight points to level the match. Roddick missed a relatively easy high backhand volley on the fourth break point. But even after dropping the third set, Roddick didn’t let up. He broke once in the fourth set to even the match.
The fifth set went back-and-forth with the players slugging huge serves at each other, offering few chances to break. Finally, serving in the 30th game with Federer ahead 15-14, Roddick blinked.
He misplayed a forehand to set up match point. After a contest featuring so many brilliant shots, Roddick missed badly on another forehand to end it.
“This match was different from last year’s final with Nadal,” Federer said. “I just said to myself, ‘I’m exactly where I want to be at 13-13 in the fifth set. You’re a few minutes from winning.’ I saw it in a positive way. I believed right to the end.”
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