Federer Wins Wimbledon!

One month shy of 31 years old, the ever-impressive Roger Federer made history again by defeating Andy Murray in the Wimbledon final 46 75 63 64 to win his 17th major, 7th Wimbledon, and first Slam win in two and a half years.  He also regained the #1 ranking, and will break Pete Sampras' record for weeks at #1 in two weeks.

Note:  I am going to be writing this not so much as an analyst but as a big Roger Federer fan, so beware: it may get a little emotional.  This Grand Slam means so much to me as a fan of Roger, after seeing all the struggles he has had to endure over the past two and a half years.

Don't you just love it when dreams come true?  Was it destiny calling? 

Perhaps.

There was so much pressure on Roger Federer and Andy Murray before their epic Wimbledon final.  There was Andy, who was looking to win his first Grand Slam and be the first British player to win one since 1936.  There was Roger, who was bidding to become the World #1 after two years being at #2 and #3.  He was trying to win his 7th Wimbledon title and record-extending 17th overall.  And the beauty of this match was that even with so much combined pressure on the shoulders of Roger and Andy, they put forth a spectacular display of tennis that will be remembered by those who witnessed it as a coming of age for Andy and a magical moment in the grand career of Roger.

The crowd was electric long before the match began.  Nerves would certainly play a part early in the match, but who would it affect the most?  The easy pick would be Murray, but that was not the case.  Murray broke in the opening game and looked focused and energized.  Unlike the other three Slam finals he'd competed in, you knew Andy was in it to win it this time around.  And boy, he did not let the pressure get to him.

As mentioned, Andy broke in the first game.  Roger got the break back to make it even at 2-2, and they swapped holds until 4-4.  One game earlier, at 3-4, Roger had a chance to break (and ultimately win the set in all likelihood), but he could not convert.  That came back to haunt him, as he got broke in the 9th game and Murray held emphatically to win his first set in a Grand Slam finals (he was previously 0-9).

In the second set, it was tense.  Real tense.  I had confidence that Fed would still come out on top and turn the match around because there was a stretch in the first set where he was playing really solid tennis and won 4 of 5 games.  Crucially, Fed saved a few break points throughout the set, and more and more, momentum was starting to shift to his side.

At 5-6, Murray went up 30-0 and a tiebreak looked to be ahead.  But in the first set, Roger broke after being down 40-15 in Andy's service game, and the same thing happened here.  Roger won the next four points to take the set in amazing fashion.  On set point, after a lengthy baseline rally, Roger played a genius short backhand drop volley with side spin that not even the quick Murray could get to.  It was a brilliant way to end the set and set the precedent for what was to come.

In the 3rd set, rain started to pour down at in the third game, and there was a forty minute delay while they closed the roof because it was raining heavily.  This decision would prove to be instrumental in the outcome of the match, as Roger's game is perfectly suited for playing without the variable elements of wind, sun, cold or hot temperature and humidity (that can affect balls), and so on.

At 3-2 on Murray's serve, there was a twenty minute game that featured ten deuces and lasted 26 points long.  Fed had six break point chances, and converted on the final one to grasp the important break.  It is worth noting that Andy fell three separate times during that game, and this was truly the time when Roger started to get into the zone.  Roger consolidated the break and held twice more to take the important 3rd set, just as he did on Friday in the semis against Djokovic.

In the 4th, Murray was staying strong and put on an inspirational last stand.  He had a chance to break at 1-1, and if he won the point, he likely would have won the set with the onslaught of energy that would shoot through his body.  Lucky for Roger, Andy's forehand pass went wide, and Roger escaped trouble.  At 2-2, Fed broke with a sensational backhand passing shot - vintage Federer.  He then did a Nadal-like fist pump, knowing he was now so incredibly close to achieving his goal.

Murray made Fed earn it.  They traded holds until 5-4 when Roger had to serve it out to win.  It was a tricky game, no doubt one of the toughest games Roger has ever played, given the score and what was at stake.  He held two match points and converted on the second one.  He fell to his knees and then to his back, looking up to his box as tears rolled down his face.  He was a Grand Slam champion again, and World #1 again, and after two years of dominance by his younger counterparts, Nadal and Djokovic, Federer was back where he had been 16 times previously - standing as the major champion with the trophy in his hands.

Quite simply, Roger was unbelievable.  In the first set, he was most certainly nervous, and Murray played spectacularly well.  In the second set Fed dug in and managed to play his best tennis near the end of the set to get the break.  The final two sets with the roof on over Centre Court could only be described as genius, sensational, mind-blowing, inspiring, and any other fabulous word you can think of.

Was it destiny calling?  It sure seemed that way for Murray when Rafael Nadal was shockingly defeated in the 2nd round.  He made the final (the first male to do so since 1938) and the only man to stand in his way was the greatest champion the game has known.  Andy was emotional after the match and he received a heart-wrench ovation as he gave a powerful speech that brought tears to his eyes, his fans' eyes, and to mine, if I'm being honest with myself.  If you ask me, and Roger said the same thing, this is not the end for Andy, only the beginning.  This fortnight showed what the Scot is capable of, and I do believe he will win a Slam in the next year.  He has nothing to feel ashamed of after that determined effort.

As for Roger, well, I cannot believe that he won.  I had this gut feeling right from the start that this Slam would be different than previous ones, as if the stars were lining up.  Then Rafa went out, and his biggest obstacle was gone.  Then in the match with Benneteau, he was down two sets and was two points away from losing five times, but he came through like a champion.  In the next round against Malisse, he overcame severe back pain to fight through; he was not going to give up the chance to win this major.  He faced Djokovic, the World #1, and flourished, asserting his game and playing beautifully under the roof.  And then in the final, against his toughest opponent, playing with such inspiring determination, Fed brought out his best and showed why he is the greatest champion in tennis history.

As a fan, I have to thank Roger for all he has given me as I have grown up into becoming an adult.  His courage and strength have given me a light even in the darkest of my days.  Fed showed us why perseverance and dedication can make anything possible.  Slam #17 was a long time coming, perhaps too long.  But on the other hand, the tough defeats we had to endure as Federer fans, not to mention the effect those losses had on the Man himself, made this win, at Wimbledon (where it all began), that much sweeter.

Congratulations Roger, and thank you.

PS:  I will write more about the Wimbledon final and the tournament in general in the coming days - how Roger won, how special this Wimbledon was, and what lies ahead for the newly re-crowned World #1.  I also have an array of impressive stats to dish out about Wimbledon and Fed's career in general, so stay tuned!