“Even though it’s the third title, it feels like the first one to me, because it’s always so special to win at Wimbledon”. After this one, Djokovic bellowed.
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“I was heartbroken after losing in Paris and it was good that I had Wimbledon around the corner”, said Djokovic.
One forehand victor later, he did.
Of course, the French Open continues to elude him, defeated in the final in three of the last four years including in June against an inspired Stanislas Wawrinka. Yet, having already achieved so much in tennis’ greatest era, now it is Djokovic’s time to shine. You walk away empty-handed. I enjoy coming out on the court and doing the repetitive things which sometimes are not very pleasant but at the end of the day it pays off and it allows you to be in the position to fight for these trophies.
A typically gracious Federer added: “That is sport, we don’t know the outcome”.
For his part, Federer recognized that Djokovic was worthy of his victory.
This fortnight, Federer won 89 of 90 service games entering the final, then again was broken four times. “I mean, it’s not that easy, especially with Roger’s precision and accuracy”.
Djokovic’s serve is more of an asset than ever – he saved six of seven break points Sunday – and now he has designs on getting to the net more often. Andy Murray’s win-loss record since he married Kim Sears in April is 25-2 (and a walkover), with three titles. Pressured by Djokovic’s body-twisting ability to extend points, Federer committed 35 unforced errors; Djokovic made 16. Not when we have all luxuriated in his movement and the joyful, timeless, beauty of his game over the past fortnight at SW19.
Federer might very well be the greatest of all time, as some say, but right now, the best in the men’s game is Djokovic. Victory at the U.S. Open will complete a career-first calendar Grand Slam, and draw her level with Steffi Graf’s haul of 22 major titles.
The final’s second tiebreak was in Djokovic’s pocket at 6-3 but Federer summoned a few magic, winning a hypnotic 26-stroke rally on the way back to 6-6.
Still, most spectators were pulling for Federer. “So he deserves it”, Federer told the crowd.
“They accepted it, fortunately”, Djokovic said.
So 110 minutes in, they were tied.
At the changeover, Djokovic yelled at himself.
For so long seen as the third wheel in a generation-defining rivalry between Federer and Rafael Nadal, there is no longer any doubt that the man from Belgrade has emerged from that largest of shadows.
That’s why he brought aboard Boris Becker as a second coach, for example, to help his mental toughness and serve, among other things.
In fact since the birth of his son Stefan last October, the world number one has lost only three of 61 matches and collected eight titles, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
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“Novak has shown he can play totally unimpacted, totally uninfluenced by everything around him”, Federer said after the match and it was as high a compliment as the Serb has probably ever got.
