Novak Djokovic Crowned Wimbledon 2015 Champion with Victory over Seven-Time Winner Roger Federer in Four Sets
7-6 6-7 6-4 6-3
- Novak Djokovic won a pulsating opening set 7-6 (7-1) on Centre Court on Sunday afternoon in 45 minutes
- Roger Federer saved seven set points against the world No 1 in the second set to win it 7-6 (12-10)
- Defending champion Djokovic won the third set 6-4 as a brief rain delay interrupted proceedings
- The world No 1 won the fourth set 6-3 to seal the match 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-3 against seven-time champion Federer
- Djokovic is the first person to successfully defend the Wimbledon title since Federer achieved the feat back in 2007
Daily Mail UK, 12 July 2015
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer provided tennis fit for a golden age on Sunday before the world No 1 eased to a third Wimbledon title.
Djokovic was stretched to his limits at times but ultimately proved too good for Andy Murray’s conqueror, winning 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-3 in two hours and 55 minutes.
The 28-year-old holds aloft the Wimbledon trophy after successfully defending his title against Federer in a repeat of the 2014 final
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Roger Federer collects his runner-up trophy on Centre Court
The Serb thrashed away a final inside-out cross court forehand with a victorious cry to seal it, before eating a blade of grass. He was pushed all the way by the player who had been so imperious up until this match.
Novak Djokovic celebrates as he beats Roger Federer in four sets during their Wimbledon final on Sunday afternoon
Djokovic beats his chest in jubilation as he defeated Federer 7-6 6-7 6-4 6-3 on Centre Court
The world No 1 celebrates his successful defence of his Wimbledon title by eating a blade on the hallowed Centre Court
Djokovic (left) and Federer pose at the net for the customary photo before their epic Wimbledon final began on Sunday
Djokovic looks to tackle the formidable Federer serve early on with a sliced backhand during the opening game of the first set
Federer returns a Djokovic shot with a backhand volley as the opening games are played at a frenetic pace
The Centre Court crowd were largely behind Federer throughout the match but the Serb did have some support of his own
Actors Bradley Cooper (top) and Benedict Cumberbatch were two celebrities who managed to have a seat inside the packed Centre Court
By doing so he moved ahead of the likes of Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl to register a ninth Grand Slam title, furthering his case to be regarded as one of the greats of the sport already at just 28.
Federer could not quite rouse himself to the heights he reached in knocking out Murray two days ago, but then his precision serving was up against an even more skilled returner than the world No 3.
The match will be remembered for the outstanding passage of play that developed late in the second set, as the Swiss clung on to force what turned into a thrilling tiebreak that almost lifted the roof off the Centre Court.
Federer had also forced two set points at 6-5 in the first set but the Serb saved both of them with powerful, flat serves wide out to the backhand that were unreturnable.
He is left without a Grand Slam title since 2012 final here and he will know that time is running out to acquire an eighteenth, especially in a sport so physical, as was amply demonstrated here.
Djokovic showed that he could overcome the effects of the huge disappointment he suffered by missing out on the French Open again in Paris. He is the complete tennis warrior.
Federer's aggressive play on grass has been a prominent feature throughout the tournament and it paid dividends early on for the Swiss
The seven-time Wimbledon champion secured the first break of the match to take a 4-2 lead in the first set to the delight of the crowd
The 28-year-old was soon back on the defensive as he managed to save two Federer set points to take the opening set into a tiebreak
Djokovic's wife Jelena roars him on as the defending champion takes the opening set 7-6 (7-1) on Centre Court
Djokovic stretches every sinue in his body to return a Federer thunderbolt as the quality of the second set continues to amaze
Federer's camp, including his wife Mirka, celebrate his second set victory to tie the match at SW19
The two tiebreaks were utterly contrasting, and while the first was forgettable the second will be talked about for years.
In the opener Federer, who Murray failed to take to one of the sudden death shootouts, was suddenly all out of first serves and he lost it 7-1 through a double fault.
The second will be bracketed with the likes of the great Bjorn Borg-John McEnroe tiebreak of 1980 which McEnroe won 18-16. Borg had seven match points in that, while Djokovic had seven set points in this one before losing it 12-10, Federer taking it on his second attempt.
It could be argued that Swiss played worse in the second set, which he ended up winning, than he did in the others.
Ultimately, like so many of these matches between great players, it was all about who could be the most composed on the big points. An absolute monster was in the third set at 1-0 up when he forced a break point, got into a rally but hit a forehand long.
Had he managed that then the huge change in momentum would have been consolidated. But instead Djokovic held on and when he broke the next game he was able to go into the 22-minute rain delay decisively up at 3-2.