Five-star Federer equals record
Federer holds aloft his fifth successive Wimbledon trophy
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Sunday, 08, Jul 2007 08:49
Roger Federer has clinched his fifth straight Wimbledon crown after beating Rafael Nadal 7-6 (9/7) 4-6 7-6 (7/3) 2-6 6-2 in one of the tournament's greatest finals.
The world number one equalled Bjorn Borg's record of five straight triumphs at SW19 after a gruelling three hours 45 minutes on centre court.
The win moves Federer to 11 grand slams, just three behind the all-time record set-by Pete Sampras.
In a thrilling opening set, Federer drew first blood after coming from 0-40 behind to break Nadal in game two.
The Spaniard broke back in game five after firing two straight backhand winners down the line past the floundering Federer to trail 3-2.
Both players then held their serve to force a marathon tie-break. Federer went 4-1 ahead but Nadal battled back to win five of the next seven points to level at 6-6.
An unforced error from Nadal gave Federer set point and the Swiss ace clinched the opening set with a backhand volley.
The second set went with serve until game ten when Nadal gained two break points after a scuffed shot from Federer. The French Open champion clinched the set with a sizzling backhand down the line.
In a vintage third set Federer continued to fend off pressure from Nadal on his own serve, including an angled backhand smash and deft volley in game ten.
Tempers flared in the resulting tie-break with Federer giving Nadal a cold stare after he challenged a call. The world number one kept his cool to triumph and go 2-1 ahead.
Nadal exploded into action in the fourth set and immediately broke with a sublime forehand crosscourt return after Federer had ventured into the net.
In game three at 30-30 Nadal made a challenge to Hawkeye. The replay showed the ball was in, leading to a stunned Federer to argue with umpire and call for Hawkeye to be switched off.
After going 4-1 ahead, Nadal called for the trainer due to a knee injury. But the world number two recovered to seal the set and force Federer into his first five-set match at Wimbledon since his famous win over Sampras in 2001.
Nadal will be rueing his chances to break four times at 15-40 ahead in games three and five, especially putting a routine forehand into the net.
Federer added insult to injury by breaking and, on his second match point in game eight, he followed an angled forehand by smashing an overhead volley to clinch his 54th straight win on grass.
The Swiss ace collapsed to the ground in tears as he avenged the defeat he suffered to Nadal in last month's French Open final in Paris.