WIMBLEDON – For two sets on Sunday, the Wimbledon final was a complete tossup, brilliantly contested by a pair of tennis virtuosos from two different half-generations. Then, suddenly, age mattered, and Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer for a ninth major title, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (10), 6-4, 6-3.
If Federer was going to win this uphill battle, he not only needed to keep individual points short. He also had to condense the entire match against an opponent five years his junior. But Federer lost the first set, then required tremendous energy to make a magnificent stand in the second. After that, he simply trailed off and couldn’t put up much fight against the indefatigable Serb.
“Novak played not only great today, but the whole two weeks, the whole year, the whole last two years,” Federer told the crowd. “He was tougher on the bigger points and then at the end he was rock solid.
“I’m still very hungry, motivated to play,” Federer said, promising to be back.
After he lost in a five-setter last year to Djokovic, Federer was in tears knowing how close he’d come to another championship. This time he was less emotional and defeat was a bit more inevitable.
RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic takes just under three hours to beat Roger Federer for a second Wimbledon final in a row.
There were several moments in the first set that might have changed everything, might have given Federer enough of a jump start to win a best-of-five final. Federer broke Djokovic in the sixth game, but couldn’t seal the deal. He gave the break right back when his first serve wasn’t working.
Then in the 12th game, Federer earned two set points. Djokovic, unfazed, answered with a service winner and an ace. The first tiebreaker was a complete disaster for Federer, who somehow rallied himself and successfully fought off six set points in the second tiebreaker.
When Federer’s backhand volley winner took that second set, the Centre Court crowd went berserk and hope was renewed that the 33-year-old star might steal one more major title, his 18th. But Djokovic broke Federer in the third game of the third set when the Swiss master blew an unthinkably simple forehand near the net, sailing it long. That was the last time Federer would reach even ground in the match.
From then on, Djokovic’s groundstrokes were ripped deeper and closer to the lines during the longer rallies, and too many unforced errors sneaked into Federer’s game. He had been broken only once in the tournament before Sunday, yet Djokovic was able to do it four times in the final. The fourth time meant the match, accomplished on an inside-out, winning forehand from midcourt.
Roger Federer makes a game of it at first, but can't keep up with Novak Djokovic. Alastair Grant/AP
Roger Federer makes a game of it at first, but can't keep up with Novak Djokovic.
If Federer was going to win this uphill battle, he not only needed to keep individual points short. He also had to condense the entire match against an opponent five years his junior. But Federer lost the first set, then required tremendous energy to make a magnificent stand in the second. After that, he simply trailed off and couldn’t put up much fight against the indefatigable Serb.
“Novak played not only great today, but the whole two weeks, the whole year, the whole last two years,” Federer told the crowd. “He was tougher on the bigger points and then at the end he was rock solid.
“I’m still very hungry, motivated to play,” Federer said, promising to be back.
After he lost in a five-setter last year to Djokovic, Federer was in tears knowing how close he’d come to another championship. This time he was less emotional and defeat was a bit more inevitable.
RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic takes just under three hours to beat Roger Federer for a second Wimbledon final in a row.
There were several moments in the first set that might have changed everything, might have given Federer enough of a jump start to win a best-of-five final. Federer broke Djokovic in the sixth game, but couldn’t seal the deal. He gave the break right back when his first serve wasn’t working.
Then in the 12th game, Federer earned two set points. Djokovic, unfazed, answered with a service winner and an ace. The first tiebreaker was a complete disaster for Federer, who somehow rallied himself and successfully fought off six set points in the second tiebreaker.
When Federer’s backhand volley winner took that second set, the Centre Court crowd went berserk and hope was renewed that the 33-year-old star might steal one more major title, his 18th. But Djokovic broke Federer in the third game of the third set when the Swiss master blew an unthinkably simple forehand near the net, sailing it long. That was the last time Federer would reach even ground in the match.
From then on, Djokovic’s groundstrokes were ripped deeper and closer to the lines during the longer rallies, and too many unforced errors sneaked into Federer’s game. He had been broken only once in the tournament before Sunday, yet Djokovic was able to do it four times in the final. The fourth time meant the match, accomplished on an inside-out, winning forehand from midcourt.
Roger Federer makes a game of it at first, but can't keep up with Novak Djokovic. Alastair Grant/AP
Roger Federer makes a game of it at first, but can't keep up with Novak Djokovic.