Wimbledon champion
Roger Federer claims his eighth men’s singles title.
Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates after winning his eighth men’s singles title at Wimbledon. He defeated Croatia’s Marin Cilic in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4.
LONDON — Another record for the great Roger Federer.
He has now conducted the most expensive tennis clinic in history.
The frustrated student Sunday was Croatia’s Marin Cilic, playing in his first Wimbledon final. Federer, a veteran of 11, coolly dispatched him 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, making it look less like a match and more like a victory lap.
Itwas an unprecedented eighthWimbledon title for Federer.
“Winning eight is not something you can ever aim for,” said the Swiss great, who turns 36 next month.
Federer’s eight Wimbledon titles are surpassed only by Rafael Nadal’s 10 French Opens.
“Wimbledon was ... will always bemy favorite tournament,” said Federer, who wonthe first of his19Grand Slams at the All England Club. “My heroes walked the grounds here.”
Federer didn’t lose a set in the tournament. It was his first Wimbledon title since 2012. The match was over in a breezy 1 hour, 41minutes, the same time it took Federer to beat Andy Roddick in the 2005 final.
Coming off knee surgery last year, Federer lost in the semifinals at Wimbledon. He then took the rest of the year off and spent it with his family. Amazingly, he essentially came in cold and won the Australian Open, then skipped the clay-court season, including the French Open.
He returned again and wonWimbledon.
“Honestly, I’m incredibly surprised howwell this year is going,” he said. “I knew I could do great again maybe one day, but not at this level.”
Federer is the oldestman to win Wimbledon in the Open Era, which began in 1968.
The 6-foot-6 Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion, wasn’t overpowered but buckled under the weight of a slew of unforced errors and was bothered by a blister on the ball of his left foot.
Of course, this wasn’t a case of Cilic losing the match. Federer imposed his will andwon it.