Djokovic in way of Federer Wimbledon history bid
by Dave James
Roger Federer can win a record eighth Wimbledon title and become the
oldest champion of the modern era if he can find a way past world number
one Novak Djokovic today.
The 33-year-old Swiss has defied those who dared to write him off
when he lost last year's final to the Serb in five gruelling sets.
His breathtaking demolition of Andy Murray in Friday's semi-finals
was a throwback to his years of Grand Slam dominance when he captured 16
of his 17 majors in a seven-year spell between 2003 and 2010.
Now he has reached a 10th Wimbledon final, the oldest man to do so
since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974, and his 26th Grand Slam final
overall.
A win would break the tie of seven Wimbledon titles he shares with
Pete Sampras and which he levelled with his most recent Slam, the 2012
All England Club crown.
Ahead of their 40th career meeting, Federer and defending champion
Djokovic are equally-matched.
Federer has a 20-19 career edge in their head-to-heads but they are
locked at 6-6 in the Grand Slams.
In finals at the majors they are 1-1 with Djokovic's Wimbledon
triumph of 12 months ago following Federer's straight sets victory in
the 2007 US Open.
"It's great to play Novak anywhere these days because he's a great
player. He's had unbelievable success throughout his career," said
Federer.
"But especially now the last few years, he's been unbelievably
dominant, especially on the hard courts, then he improved on the grass.
On the clay, he's one of the best, if not the best.
"He's become very match-tough. He always shows up. It's tough to beat
him. He's been good for the game."
The pair have already met three times in 2015 - Djokovic winning the
finals at Indian Wells and Rome after Federer had come out on top in the
Dubai final.
That loss in the UAE was just one of three for Djokovic all year with
the third coming at the worst possible time at the hands of an inspired
Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final, the only Slam still to elude
him.
Federer allowed Murray just one break point in his 7-5, 7-5, 6-4
semi-final win and that was in the first game as the great Swiss went
onto finish with 20 aces and 56 winners. It was also his 79th match win
at Wimbledon and he is closing in on Jimmy Connors' record of 84.
But now he has to figure out Djokovic, who has yet to hit top gear at
Wimbledon despite having made his fourth final.
He had to come back from two sets down to beat Kevin Anderson in the
fourth round and he was struggling to match Richard Gasquet's
laser-accurate, one-handed backhand in the first set of his semi-final
before he raced to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Djokovic, chasing his ninth Grand Slam title in his 17th final,
boasts impressive numbers this year.
He is 47-3, collecting a fifth Australian Open as well as Masters
titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome.
He also has an admirable record of consistency at the highest level
having made at least the semi-finals 19 times at the last 20 Grand
Slams.
Victory on Sunday for the 28-year-old would have an interesting
symmetry -- it was 30 years ago that coach Boris Becker won his first
Wimbledon title as a 17-year-old.
(AFP) |