LONDON, July 6 — On a tense English afternoon, in front of a Duke and a tennis royal named Pete Sampras, and in a court likened to a shrine, a coronation took place.
By winning his sixth Wimbledon title, and a record 15th overall, Roger Federer (above) became the most accomplished player in the history of an ancient game.
He defeated Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 16-14 in a brutal final that lasted 4hr 17min. He did not fall to his knees and weep as he often does but leapt gratefully and triumphantly towards the heavens.
Exactly a year ago, defeated by Rafael Nadal, the Swiss was mired in a gentle slump. But his powers of recovery have been dramatic. His body repaired itself after an illness, he put on muscle and has since wreaked havoc. In the past 10 months or so, he has won the US Open, been to the Australian Open final, conquered Parisian clay and now retaken ownership of a court that was his.
Sport without romance becomes a clinical enterprise and it was only appropriate that he break the record in front of Sampras, who won seven titles on this grass and held the record of 14 Grand Slam titles.
But it was no easy feat. The hard-serving, courageous Roddick, an amusing, plain-speaking American, pushed Federer to the brink but the Swiss would not fall over. Said the sporting American to Federer: “It was a pleasure playing you today.” Certainly it was a pleasure watching them both.
Federer lost the first set and was down 2-6 in the second set tie-breaker yet rallied to win it. He won the third as well, but Roddick kept his composure to take the fourth, and both duelled like big-serving knights in the fifth. Finally, a mis-hit Roddick forehand went long and history was made. Said the Swiss: “It feels amazing.”
Fifteen Grand Slam titles is astonishing because tennis is a harder sport than before, on mind and body. It is a bewildering number because it is equal to how many those giants Jimmy Connors (8) and John McEnroe (7) won together. It is a feat we may not see again for Federer's 15 Grand Slam titles spanned 25 Grand Slam tournaments. Sampras took 45 to win 14.
Part of the inscription on the trophy that Federer held reads “single-handed champion of the world”. It is a fitting title for a man who will regain his No.1 spot this morning. He is the best player in the world today. And probably ever. — Straits Times
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