No tennis player in history has had more to be regal about
Paul Hayward on Roger Federer’s historic 8th title
‘I should take more time off. It’s magical, I can’t believe it yet. It’s disbelief that I can achieve such heights. I wasn’t sure if I’d be back’
IN THE end it took just an hour and 41 minutes for Roger Federer to make history, defeating Marin Čilić in straight sets to become the first man to win eight Wimbledon championships.
The Swiss player beat Croatian Čilić 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to claim his 19th grand slam title, having glided through the tournament without dropping a single set.
Less than a month away from his 36th birthday, Federer is the oldest man to have lifted the Wimbledon trophy, despite taking a six-month break from competing last year.
For a man who, by his own admission, did not expect to be in the Wimbledon finals a year ago, it was a remarkable achievement.
“I should take more time off,” he joked, moments after winning the title.
“It’s magical, I can’t believe it yet. It’s disbelief that I can achieve such heights,” he told Sue Barker on BBC.
“I wasn’t sure if I would ever be back here in another final after last year but I always believed I could come back, and if you believe in your life you can go a long way. I kept on believing and dreaming and here I am today.”
Federer also shed a tear as he saw his family celebrating in the players’ box. As he was presented with the trophy, his wife, Mirka, stood with their twin daughters, seven-year-olds Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, and three-year-old twin sons Leo and Lenny.
The girls have already seen their father win Wimbledon, but it was a new experience for the boys. Federer said: “They have no clue what’s going on, they think this is probably a nice view and a nice playground. Hopefully one day they will understand.” Federer has also fulfilled a dream for the women’s champion, Garbiñe Muguruza, who revealed she was hoping to share the winners’ dance with the Swiss player at the Champions’ Ball.
But Federer has not given up on achieving further dizzying heights. “Wimbledon was always my favourite tournament, it will always be my favourite tournament,” he said. “My heroes walked the grounds here and walked the courts here. Because of them, I think I became a better player, too. To mark history here really means a lot to me.”
Asked what keeps him going, he said: “I love to play … my wife’s totally fine with me still playing. Because I’m playing a little less, I actually get more time in return. I feel like I’m working part-time these days almost, which is a great feeling. The goal is definitely to be here again next year to try to defend [the title].”
Watching from the Royal Box was the Duchess of Cambridge, a patron of the All England Club, who later congratulated Federer with a kiss on the cheek. She was joined by her husband, the Duke of Cambridge, Theresa May, the Prime Minister; Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London; and actors Hugh Grant, Eddie Redmayne and Bradley Cooper.
Sir Cliff Richard and David Tennant were also in the crowd.