DJOKOVIC OUTLASTS FEDERER IN CLASSIC ON CENTRE COURT
Novak triumphs in his toughest-ever match after overcoming Fed and a partisan crowd
NOVAK DJOKOVIC won the first ever Wimbledon title via a final-set tiebreak last night – and then claimed it was the hardest match of his life because he was also playing the Centre Court crowd.
Roger Federer dominated the longest men’s final in Wimbledon history with his deadly serve and had two match points in the epic fifth set.
But despite the vocal support for the Swiss superstar, world No.1 Djokovic showed his mental toughness to win the three crucial tiebreaks to triumph 13-12 in the final set for his unforgettable fifth title here.
The dramatic rollercoaster ride of a final, lasting four hours and 57 minutes, was an instant classic with finalset tiebreaks only introduced this year.
Djokovic equalled the number of Wimbledon titles won by the great Bjorn Borg and also claimed his 16th Grand Slam title to move within four of the record held by Federer and only two behind Rafa Nadal.
Yet he does not enjoy the same popularity of the other members of the Big Three.
The Centre Court crowd chanted Federer’s name while Djokovic’s first double fault was cheered and he was booed in the final set after protesting a line call and then receiving a code violation for hitting the umpire’s chair in frustration.
After claiming his first match point when Federer framed a forehand into the stand, Djokovic stared calmly at the crowd before taking his traditional taste of Centre Court turf in celebration.
“It was a huge relief in the end, honestly,” admitted the Serb. “It was probably the most demanding, mentally most demanding, match I was ever part of.
“I was one shot away from losing the match, as well. “This match had everything. It could have gone easily his way. “But in the most important moments, all three tiebreaks, I found my best game.” Asked if he was not only playing Federer but the crowd, the world best’s player said: “Yeah. That was one thing that I promised myself coming on to the court today, that I need to stay calm and composed, because I knew that the atmosphere will be as it was.
‘‘There has to be, next to the willpower, strength that comes not just from your physical self, but from your mental and emotional self.
“For me, at least, it’s a constant battle within, more than what happens outside.
“It’s hard to not be aware of the crowd.
“You have that kind of electric atmosphere, that kind of noise, especially in some decisive moments where we’re quite even.
“Of course, if you have the majority of the crowd on your side, it helps, it gives you motivation, it gives you strength, it gives you energy.
‘‘When you don’t, then you have to find it within. At times you just try to ignore it, which is quite hard. I like to transmutate it in a way.
“When the crowd is chanting ‘Roger’ I hear ‘Novak’. It sounds silly, but it is like that. I try to convince myself that it’s like that. It’s similar ‘Roger’ and ‘Novak!’.”
It took Djokovic two hours and 47 minutes to get his first break point against Federer and he only broke him three times in all – twice in the 122-minute final set – to win 7-6 1-6 7-6 4-6 13-12.
Federer said in his postmatch interview he wanted to inspire all 37-year-olds – and Djokovic insisted he was inspired by him to carry on and try to break his record of 20 Grand Slams.
Djokovic said: “Hopefully in five years’ time I can be hearing the same chants (as Federer).”
And Federer joked that his four children – who were seated in the crowd – would not be that impressed with the runnerup plate, adding, “They would rather have that golden thing”.