Tennis | Djokovic defeats Federer for 3rd Wimbledon title

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer for a second year in a row to win his third Wimbledon title. The top-seeded Serb overcame Federer – and a Centre Court crowd cheering for the seven-time winner from Switzerland – 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (10-12), 6-4, 6-3 to tie his coach Boris Becker with three titles at the All England Club. Djokovic now has nine grand slam titles.
Djokovic, 28, is the first man to successfully defend the title since Federer won five times in a row from 2003 to 2007. The men are now tied at 20-20 in a rivalry that started nine years ago on the clay of Monte Carlo.
In the first set yesterday, Djokovic saved two set points at 6-5 down with service winners and forced a tiebreak with an ace. Leading 3-1, the Serb came out on top after a long baseline rally. Serving at 6-1 down, Federer gifted the set with a double fault.
The second set went to a tiebreak again after Djokovic squandered a set point at 5-4 on a forehand error. The crowd gave Federer a standing ovation after the Swiss saved six more set points to win 12-10 on a big serve followed by two backhand volleys. Djokovic was furious, hitting his racket on his foot three times and shouting at his box during the changeover.
The top seed quickly recovered in the third set, breaking early on as he stood closer to the baseline to take the ball earlier. After a 15-minute rain delay at 3-2, Djokovic served out the third set to love with a smash.
The world No. 1 didn’t have an easy run to the Wimbledon title, coming back from two sets down in the fourth round against Kevin Anderson, who hit 71 winners, including 40 aces. Djokovic called the match, played over two days, “one of the most difficult” he’s had at Wimbledon, and possibly in his career.
The 28-year-old is oldest man to reach nine grand slams. Federer, who turns 34 next month, won the ninth of his record 17 major titles at 25.
The French Open is still missing from Djokovic’s quest for a career grand slam. He lost to Stan Wawrinka in the final last month after beating Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. The Spaniard beat him in the 2012 and 2014 finals. Danielle Rossingh, Bloomberg