Roger Federer left the door tantalizingly ajar for local hero Andy Murray in the Wimbledon men’s singles final on Sunday, then slammed it shut to win a record-equaling seventh Wimbledon title and in so doing return to the top of the world rankings.
The Swiss great, contesting his eighth final at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, flirted with danger in the second set after losing the first, but just when Murray looked like ending 76 years of plucky British failure Federer gave a stunning reminder of his genius to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court.
When a Murray forehand looped narrowly wide after 3 hours, 24 minutes of enthralling action, Federer dropped to the turf in joy, just as he did in 2003 when he beat Australia’s Mark Philippoussis to begin a Grand Slam collection that now stands at 17.
Photo: Reuters
For the second time in three Grand Slam finals against Murray he reduced the Scot to tears, although this match, unlike the others, was a contest to savor.
It was only after Centre Court’s translucent lid was slid across after heavy rain began to fall in the heart of the final that Federer took charge, striding to the win that puts him level with Pete Sampras’ record of seven Wimbledon crowns.
At 30 years, 335 days he also became the oldest men’s champion since Arthur Ashe in 1975 and, to put the icing on the cake, yesterday’s rankings showed him back at No. 1 for the first time in two years, equaling Sampras’ record of 286 weeks at the summit.
Photo: AFP
“I played some of my best tennis in the last couple of matches,” Federer said after raising the trophy with his wife, Mirka, and giggling twin daughters, Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, watching on from the players’ box.
“I’ve missed playing in the finals and it feels like a great moment. I’ve gone through some struggles, so this one comes at the right time,” added Federer, whose last Grand Slam title was at the 2010 Australian Open.
For Murray, his girlfriend Kim Sears and many of the thousands watching the huge screen on Henman Hill under a forest of umbrellas, there was just despair.
“I’m getting closer,” Murray, whose valiant efforts were watched by Royal Box guests British Prime Minister David Cameron, David Beckham and Prince William’s wife, Kate Middleton, choked as applause rang out.
“I was told after my semi-final that this was my best chance, Roger’s 30 now, but he’s not bad for a 30-year-old, he played a great tournament. Congratulations, you deserve it,” Murray said.
While Federer basked in the glow of another major title, Murray was left to contemplate equaling coach Ivan Lendl’s unwanted record of losing his first four Grand Slam finals.
A gracious Federer had words of encouragement.
“I think he’s giving himself so many looks at big titles. I really do believe deep down in me he will win Grand Slams, not just one,” Federer told reporters.
By defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday, Murray had become the first British man to reach the final since Bunny Austin in 1938 and as the players set foot on a sunlit Centre Court, there was an electric buzz of anticipation that he would emulate the 1936 title of Fred Perry.
Having failed to win a set in two Australian Open finals and one US Open final, Murray would have been excused early match nerves, but he came out firing to break Federer in the opening game of the match.
Federer quickly restored parity and wasted break points when leading 4-3 as Murray’s first serve started to misfire.
The Swiss was made to pay in the following game, sloppily dropping serve and Murray closed out the opening set with ease to a deafening roar from the 15,000 crowd.
Murray was the more threatening player in the second and upped the ante at 4-4, only to squander two break points that would have given him the chance to serve for a two-set lead and leave Federer facing a daunting task.
“The second set I had some chances and didn’t quite get them,” Murray said. “Often what happens is matches change over a couple of points here and there.”
That was the case as Federer seized his chance. A tiebreak loomed but, out of nowhere, Federer conjured a set point with an exquisite drop-shot and grabbed it with another stunning volley after a mesmerizing rally.
The crowd sighed and then the rain began to fall, a prelude to the British tears that were to flow later.
After a 40-minute break while the roof was rolled into position, the players returned, only this time Federer looked a different player — dominating rallies with a dazzling mixture of power, spin and clever angles.
Had Murray survived a marathon service game at 2-3 in the third, things may have been different, but when Federer struck on his sixth break point it proved to be the beginning of the end for the fourth seed, who took several tumbles.
Federer hammered another nail in the coffin with a backhand winner to break midway through the fourth set and despite chants of “Murray, Murray,” echoing around the court, kept his cool to close out the match on his second match point.
“It was crazy how it all happened under the circumstances,” said Federer, of the first Wimbledon singles final to be partly played under the roof. “I’m happy that closing the roof maybe helped me today.”
The roof stayed closed as Americans Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond won the mixed doubles title with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Indian-Russian duo Leander Paes and Elena Vesnina.
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
The journey of Taiwan’s badminton mixed doubles duo Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Chan at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur came to an end in the semi-finals yesterday after they suffered a 2-0 loss to China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping. Ye, 25, and Chan, 20, teamed up last year and are currently ranked No. 23 in the world. The Taiwanese shuttlers took on China’s second seeds in the mixed doubles event, but proved no match for Feng and Huang, losing the match 10-21, 7-21. In the first half of the first game, the pairings were neck and neck at 6-7 until Ye
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
Carlos Alcaraz on Monday powered into the French Open second round with a resounding win to start his title defense, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and three-time defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek also progressed at Roland Garros. Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz struck 31 winners in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri and is to face Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in round two. Alcaraz is now on an eight-match winning streak at the French Open and also took Olympic silver at Roland Garros last year, losing the final to Novak Djokovic. “The first round is never
RSS