By JACK LeGWIN & ADAM ZAGORIA
When their near-four-hour instant classic in the Wimbledon final was over, Novak Djokovic could only thank Roger Federer for finally, mercifully letting it come to an end.
After mustering several Houdini-like comebacks in the fourth set, including saving a match point, Federer ran out of answers in the fifth and Djokovic emerged with a 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 victory.
“I respect your career and everything you have done and thank you for letting me win today,” Djokovic said upon winning his second Wimbledon title and seventh Grand Slam singles crown.
Djokovic, 27, will also claim the No.1 ranking when the new rankings come out Monday.
“I don’t know how I managed to do it,” he said. “This is the tournament I always dreamed of winning.”
Djokovic dedicated the win to his family.
He and girlfriend Elena Ristic are reportedly getting married on Wednesday in St. Stefan Peninsula in Montenegro, and Ristic is due with their first child in October.
An improbable victory would have given Federer — the father of four — a record eighth Wimbledon title and an 18th Major victory, extending his lead over Rafael Nadal to 18-14. Instead, Federer, who hasn’t won a Major since winning Wimbledon in 2012, remains at 17 career Majors, and it’s fair to wonder if he will ever come this close again.
“It was a great final, can’t believe I made it to five,” Federer, who turns 33 next month, told the fans on Centre Court after the match. “It wasn’t looking good there for a while. I was hoping, who knows, it would maybe be enough.”
Djokovic had the chance to seal victory in four sets when he led 5-2 in the fourth set. The right-hander served for the match at 5-3, but could not close it out as Federer fought back. The Serb was then denied on a match point in the following game, as Federer hit an ace (that was shown to be so when he challenged the out call), and won five straight games to force a deciding set.
Momentum appeared in Federer’s favor and it was safe to wonder if Djokovic, loser of his last three Grand Slam finals, might lose focus after blowing the match point.
Djokovic missed three break point chances in the eighth game of the fifth set but when presented with two more match points in the 10th game, did not falter. He won the dramatic match in four minutes shy of four hours.
“I was hoping Roger was going to miss the first serve [on match point],” said Djokovic, who now trails Federer 18-17 in their career meetings. “It didn’t happen. That’s why he has 17 Grand Slams and is the most successful player ever. In the important moments, he comes up with his best tennis. I had to regroup and find the energy to win the fifth set.”
The Belgrade native joins John McEnroe and Mats Wilander in joint-eighth place on the list for most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era. It was his first major victory since the 2013 Australian Open. Since then, he had finished runner-up at Wimbledon (l. to Murray) and the U.S .Open (l. to Nadal) last year and last month at Roland Garros (l. to Nadal).
Djokovic and Federer have met 35 times, which is tied for third-most in the Open era behind Djokovic-Nadal with 42 meetings and Ivan Lendl-John McEnroe with 36 meetings. Federer will become the No. 3 player in the world when the new rankings come out.
Photos- Getty Images
(The ATP contributed reporting)
