LONDON: Novak Djokovic shredded Roger Federer’s bid to become the oldest Grand Slam champion, saving two match points to clinch a fifth Wimbledon title and 16th major in what has been the longest final ever played at the tournament.
Despite being outplayed by the 37-year-old Swiss for large parts of the knife-edge encounter, the world number one triumphed 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3), according to a Manila Times report.
At 4 hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon final ever played and settled by a final set tiebreak for the first time.
Djokovic is the first man in 71 years to win the title from match points down.
He is now on the level with Bjorn Borg as a five-time Wimbledon winner.
“I think that if this is not the most exciting final then definitely it’s in the top two or three of my career against one of the greatest players of all time, Roger, who I respect,” Agence France Presse quoted Djokovic as saying.
“Unfortunately, in this type of match someone has to lose. It is quite unreal to be two match points down to come back and strange to play a tie-break at 12-12.”
Djokovic is just four Grand Slam titles shy of the all-time record held by Federer who is more than five years older.
(AFP photo)
