Federer on verge of immortality
The 18-time Grand Slam champion had won his past seven matches against Berdych, and 18 of 24 in all, but the Czech made him work for number 19.
Federer has now become the second oldest finalist in the Open era after Ken Rosewall who finished runner-up in 1974 at the age of 39.
Five years after his last Wimbledon triumph, Roger Federer can capture a record eighth All England Club title Sunday and become the tournament’s oldest men’s champion of the modern era.
With his 36th birthday fast approaching, the evergreen Swiss will comfortably succeed Arthur Ashe, who was almost 32 when he won in 1975, as Wimbledon’s most senior champion.
Victory over Croatian giant Marin Cilic will also give him a
19th career Grand
Slam title and second in three majors this year after sweeping to a fifth
Australian Open in
January following a six-month absence. “I was hoping to be in good shape when the grass court season came around,” said Federer who, for good measure, also pocketed back-to-back Masters at Indian Wells and Miami as well as a ninth Halle grass court crown. “The first three, four months were just like a dream really. So this is something I was working towards, you know, Wimbledon, to be in good shape. I’m happy it’s paying off here now.”
Federer admits his form in 2017 has surprised even himself after he shut down his 2016 season to rest a knee injury in the aftermath of his brutal five-set semi-final loss at Wimbledon to Milos Raonic.
He has 30 wins and just two losses this year and he has reached his 11th Wimbledon final without dropping a set. - ‘Unbelievably excited’ Sunday’s match will be his 102nd at the tournament and his 29th final at the majors.
“It makes me really happy, making history here at Wimbledon. It’s a big deal. I love this tournament,” said Federer, who has been tied with Pete Sampras on seven Wimbledon titles since beating Andy Murray in the 2012 final.
“All my dreams came true here as a player. To have another chance to go for number eight now, be kind of so close now at this stage, is a great feeling.
“Yeah, unbelievably excited. I hope I can play one more good match. 11 finals here, all these records, it’s great. I’m so close now.”
While ‘Big Four’ rivals Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal failed to even make the semi-finals, Federer has been reborn. He came into Wimbledon having radically pruned his playing schedule, skipping the entire clay court season.
Wimbledon is just his seventh event of the year; 28-year-old Cilic is in his 15th. Federer, revelling in the spotlight of having played all his matches on Centre Court, has hardly been troubled on his way to the final.
I don’t see anything that would indicate Roger is getting older or anything like that PATHS TO WIMBLEDON FINAL
bt
(GER) 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
bt
7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5
(GER)
bt (USA x26) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4
bt
(ESP x18) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
bt (LUX x16) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5, 5-7, 6-1
bt (USA x24) 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5
bt
7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4
bt x13) 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
(GER x27) (BUL
bt (CAN x6) 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4)