Djokovic denies Federer again, wins third Wimbledon title
By Ricky Dimon
The latest installment of the Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer rivalry failed to produce another five-set classic like in last year’s Wimbledon final, but by no means did it disappoint…. Well, maybe it disappointed Federer fans just a bit.
But more than a few instances of sparkling tennis were on display during Djokovic’s 7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3 victory that gave the world No. 1 his third title at the All-England Club. Over the course of two hours and 55 minutes, Djokovic recorded 46 winners compared to a mere 16 unforced errors. He fired 13 aces while double-faulting only once. Federer finished with 58 winners, 35 errors, 14 aces, and three double-faults.
The 33-year-old Swiss was not without chances. He went up a break midway through the first set but gave it back right away at 4-2. Federer’s service donation was just his second of the entire tournament, having previously been broken once by Gilles Simon in the quarterfinals. Djokovic eventually forced a tiebreaker and dominated it with the loss of just one point.
Set two witnessed Djokovic’s turn to rue missed opportunities. The top seed could not convert a break point with his opponent serving at 4-5 and soon another tiebreaker had to decide things. Federer saved a whopping six more set points, including three in succession starting at 3-6. He eventually capped off the drama with a clinching volley at 11-10.
Rain appeared imminent and a delay finally stopped play following the fifth game of the third set, but not before Djokovic had regained control with another scalp of the Federer serve.
“The second-set tiebreak was frustrating, obviously, not being able to close it out,” Djokovic reflected. “I knew I could not let this happen against Roger in the final of Wimbledon. But I managed to regroup and during the rain delay got my thoughts together, went back to basics and played a really, really good match after that.”
Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men’s final of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 12 July 2015. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY
Federer never had much of a chance to get back into it. The world No. 2. who missed out on a break opportunity early in the third, did not see another break point the entire rest of the way. Djokovic held easily to finish off set three after a 20-minute delay then seized an even stronger upper hand by breaking for 3-2 in the fourth.
The Serb punctuated his impressive performance in style, getting the best of Federer’s serve again at 5-3.
“Novak not only played great today, but also this year, last year, and the year before that,” Federer joked in his on-court interview. “Well done, Novak; you deserved it. At the end he was rock-solid. I didn’t play bad myself, so I can be very happy. That’s the way it goes. Once more, it has been a privilege to play here.”
And it was a privilege for all who watched, either on Centre Court or from afar.
Topics: All England Tennis Club, Atp World Tour, Grass tennis, London, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Tennis News, The Grandstand, Wimbledon 2015, Wimbledon final
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