Djokovic holds on to win
Federer’s rally comes up just short in bid to win record eighth crown
london » NovakDjokovic’s large lead in the rollicking Wimbledon final was slipping away, due in no small part to Roger Federer’s regal presence and resurgent play.
No man has won tennis’ oldest major tournament more often than Federer, and hewas not about to let it go easily. Djokovic went frombeing a point fromvictory in the fourth set to suddenly caught in the crucible of a fifth, and knew all too well that he had come up short in recent Grand Slam title matches.
Steeling himself when he so desperately needed to, Serbia’s Djokovic held on for a 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4 victory after nearly four hours ofmomentum shifts Sunday towinWimbledon for the second time — and deny Switzerland’s Federer what would have been a record eighth championship at the All England Club.
“I could have easily lost my concentration in the fifth and just handed him the win. But I didn’t, and that’swhy this win has a special importance to me, mentally,” Djokovic said. “I managed to not just win against my opponent, but win against myself, as well, and find that inner strength.”
Cradling his trophy during the postmatch ceremony, Djokovic addressed Federer directly, saying: “I respect your career and everything you have done. And thank you for letting me win today.” Even Federer had to smile at that line. Truth is, Djokovic deserved plenty of credit for figuring out a way to raise his Grand Slam total to seven titles, allowing him to overtake RafaelNadal atNo. 1 in the rankings.
“Novak deserved it at the end, clearly,” said Federer, who hadn’t been to aGrand Slam final sincewinning his 17th major atWimbledon in 2012, “but itwas extremely close.”
Federer, who turns 33 next month, won 88 of 89 service games through the semifinals and produced 29 aces in the final, butDjokovic broke him four times.
Federerwent to the net aggressively, only to see Djokovic zoom more than a dozen passing shots past him. And with most of theCentreCourt crowd of about 15,000 raucously cheering for Federer, the 27-year-old Djokovic kept believing in himself.
That part might have been the most difficult, given that Djokovic lost his past three major finals, and five of his past six, including against AndyMurray atWimbledon last year, and againstNadal at the French Open last month.
“Started doubting, of course, a little bit,” Djokovic said. “I needed this win a lot.”
Boris Becker, the three-time Wimbledon championwho began coaching Djokovic this season, called the new champion “the biggest competitor” and praised “his sense of not giving up, giving it always another try.”
“It could’ve gone either way in the fifth set,” said Becker, whose former rival as a player, Stefan Edberg, coaches Federer. “Novak finds another way. He digs deep and finds another way.”