The New York Times
Novak Djokovic Wins Wimbledon, Outlasting Roger Federer
Djokovic prevailed in the first fifth-set tiebreaker in a Wimbledon final to claim his 16th Grand Slam title.
Christopher Clarey
By Christopher Clarey
July 14, 2019
Image Novak Djokovic captured his 16th Grand Slam title and fifth Wimbledon, outlasting Roger Federer in the longest singles final in the tournament’s history. It ended in a tiebreaker in the fifth set, a rule change this year.
Novak Djokovic captured his 16th Grand Slam title and fifth Wimbledon, outlasting Roger Federer in the longest singles final in the tournament’s history. It ended in a tiebreaker in the fifth set, a rule change this year.CreditToby Melville/Reuters
WIMBLEDON, England — Novak Djokovic won one of the great Grand Slam singles matches, defeating Roger Federer, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 13-12 (3), in the Wimbledon men’s final on Sunday.
Federer, the enduring 37-year-old Swiss star, held two match points when serving for the championship at 8-7 in the fifth set. But Djokovic, the No. 1 seed and defending champion, saved them both. He then broke Federer’s serve and went on to prevail in the fifth-set tiebreaker at 12-12, which was introduced this year at Wimbledon.
It was designed to avoid ultra-marathon matches, but this engrossing final still lasted 4 hours 57 minutes and included just about every shot and emotion in the book.
Federer, as so often and as in so many places, was the clear crowd favorite on Centre Court. His bold shots were met with louder roars than his rival’s. But Djokovic treated the huge challenge at hand just the same and was able to secure his fifth Wimbledon singles title.
This was the longest Wimbledon men’s singles final, nine minutes longer than Federer’s loss to his other longtime rival, Rafael Nadal, in 2008.
The match could have been even longer if not for the tiebreaker at 12-12, which was instituted after last year’s tournament, when Kevin Anderson beat John Isner, 26-24, in the fifth set in the semifinals.
Told by the BBC’s Sue Barker that this Wimbledon final was “one we will remember forever,” Federer shook his head and said, “I will try to forget.”
“Unfortunately in this kind of matches, one of the players has to lose,” Djokovic said in his remarks during the awards ceremony. “We both had our chances, and it’s quite unreal to be honest to be down two match points and to come back, and it’s a bit strange to play a tiebreaker at 12-all as well.”
But the tiebreakers were the key in this mood-swinging final, and Djokovic won all three. Over all, Federer played the higher quality match: hitting 94 winners and making 61 unforced errors. Djokovic finished with 54 winners and 52 unforced errors and struggled with his rhythm in the second set, which he lost in just 25 minutes. He didn’t break Federer’s serve until the fourth set, nearly three hours into the match.
But in tennis, what matters most is winning the important points, and Djokovic is one of the great pressure players in the sport’s long history.
“I couldn’t give more,” Federer, who holds the men’s record at Wimbledon with eight singles titles. “I gave it all I had. I still feel good. I still stand. I wish the same for the other 37 year olds.”
Djokovic is the first man to win a men’s singles final at Wimbledon after saving match point since 1948, when Bob Falkenburg came back to defeat John Bromwich after saving three match points.
“It was definitely tough to have those chances,” Federer said.
Image
Djokovic prevented Federer from winning two match points, then outlasted him at the end of a grueling fifth set.CreditToby Melville/Reuters
Djokovic earned his fifth straight victory over Federer and also his fifth straight in Grand Slam play. The last time Federer defeated Djokovic in one of the four major tournaments was in the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2012.
Since then, Djokovic has been able to resist Federer’s quick-strike skills, defeating him in three Wimbledon finals: 2014, 2015 and now 2019.
“For now it hurts and it should, like every loss here at Wimbledon,” Federer said. “I think it’s a mind-set and I’m very strong at being able to move on. I don’t want to be depressed about actually an amazing tennis match.”
Djokovic, 32, was in a midcareer funk as recently as the spring of 2018, when he was struggling for consistency and motivation and still finding his form after minor elbow surgery.
But he has now won four of the last five Grand Slam singles titles, running his career total to 16 — just two behind Nadal’s 18 and four behind Federer’s men’s record of 20.
This Wimbledon may end up weighing heavily in the final margins between the Big Three when all have finished their careers.
They continue to break new ground as a group, extending the age range for excellence in men’s tennis. In earlier eras, three champions in their 30s would probably have ceded their leading roles to younger men.
But the Big Three soar on and the top-ranked Djokovic certainly looks capable at this stage of reaching the 20-major mark. So does Nadal, who is 33, if he continues to excel on all surfaces and reserve his Sunday best for clay.
In the women’s game, Serena Williams, 37, has reached three Grand Slam singles finals in the last year. Her sister Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon singles final at 37 in 2017.
“I was an outlier playing top-5 tennis at the age of 38, but now everybody is doing it,” said Martina Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon singles champion. “It’s ridiculous, but I think it’s the way people can take better care of their bodies, and everything is just easier: knowing what to eat, how they train is so much more streamlined, which means longevity.
“And they don’t have to figure it all out now. It’s all been figured out for them by others, so just follow the game plan. So I think you will see this more and more from athletes. I think 40 is the new 30.”
Image
Federer and Djokovic added a thrilling chapter to an era in which they’ve dominated the men’s game along with Rafael Nadal.CreditShaun Botterill/Getty Images
Navratilova said access to high-end analytics and the top players’ ability to spend liberally on travel and support staff also have played a role.
“You can nip things in the bud,” she said. “Whatever is going on with your game, it’s easier I think to analyze and find the flaws. You know where your weaknesses are much more precisely, whether it’s strategy, technique, diet and all of it. You can really laser focus and narrow it down, so that leads to better performance and longevity.”
More knowledge could also have a democratizing effect, but that is not the way momentum is flowing in the men’s game.
The Big Three have won the last 11 major singles titles, with Djokovic leading the way of late. His only loss in the last five Grand Slam tournaments came in a wind-swept semifinal at the French Open last month, when Dominic Thiem defeated him in five sets over two days.
If not for that narrow defeat, the tennis world might not only be talking about Djokovic’s fifth Wimbledon singles title, but about him chasing a true Grand Slam.
Here's how it happened, by Ben Rothenberg:
Djokovic wins the historic tiebreaker, 7-3.
Some Wimbledon history: a fifth-set tiebreaker.
Yes, there is a fifth-set tiebreaker at Wimbledon now.
This is the longest singles match of the tournament.
It’s not over yet, folks.
Fifth set | DJOKOVIC WINS, 13-12
Djokovic wins the historic tiebreaker, 7-3.
When the chair umpire Damian Steiner announced the tiebreaker at 12-12, the crowd murmured in excited approval. Djokovic gained a minibreak advantage on the third point, when Federer misjudged a forehand half-volley and sent it wide. Djokovic extended his lead to 4-1, but went crashing down to the ground a point later as he tried to scramble for a Federer drop shot.
Djokovic kept his minibreak advantage, however, as the tiebreaker held on serve, and he extended his lead to 6-3 with a blazing backhand down the line.
That gave him three championship points after saving two from Federer at 8-7 in the fifth set.
The first championship point was replayed after a successful challenge from Djokovic; on the redo, Djokovic converted immediately, with Federer shanking a forehand drive high into the air, ending the match.
After a warm greeting at the net, after 4 hours 57 minutes, Djokovic knelt down, picked and ate some of the grass. He had his 16th Grand Slam title and fifth at Wimbledon.
Fifth set | DJOKOVIC 12, FEDERER 12
Some Wimbledon history: a fifth-set tiebreaker.
For the first time in a singles qualifying or main-draw match, there will be a tiebreaker played at 12-12 in the final set, after Federer held at love in the 24th and final regular game of the match.
There were none required in the first 253 singles matches of the main draw; now one will decide the men’s champion.
Fifth set | DJOKOVIC 11, FEDERER 11
Yes, there is a fifth-set tiebreaker at Wimbledon now.
After a marathon men’s semifinal last year in which Kevin Anderson beat John Isner, 26-24, in the fifth set, Wimbledon added a new tiebreaker at 12-12 in the final set of matches for this year’s tournament. It was meant to provide a more definite finish time for previously interminable matches (Isner also once won a fifth set, 70-68).
Through 255 singles matches at Wimbledon this year, none have reached 12-12. Could the men’s final, now locked at 11-11 between Federer and Djokovic, be the first?
If they split the next two games, they will play a standard tiebreaker (first to seven points, win-by-two) to decide a champion.
Call It the John Isner Rule: Wimbledon Plans to Add a Final-Set Tiebreaker
Oct. 19, 2018
Fifth set | DJOKOVIC 10, FEDERER 10
This is the longest singles match of the tournament.
At 4 hours 28 minutes so far, this is the longest singles match of the tournament, passing Matteo Berrettini’s 4-hour, 19-minute victory over Diego Schwartzman in the third round.
Federer, in turn, then needed only 1 hour and 14 minutes to beat Berrettini in the fourth round.
Fifth set | FEDERER 8, DJOKOVIC 8
It’s not over yet, folks.
Serving for his ninth Wimbledon title up by 8-7 in the fifth, Federer opened with a forehand unforced error that landed far beyond the baseline, but which he challenged anyhow, out of apparent irritation.
After winning a nine-shot rally to level at 15-15, he hit two aces to give himself two championship points. The first one resulted in a strong forehand return from Djokovic, which jammed Federer into a forehand error. Djokovic saved the second championship point as well, hitting a forehand passing shot after a tentative Federer approach.
Djokovic then earned a break point by hitting a deep crosscourt forehand that Federer could not send back, and then drew another forced error on Federer’s forehand to level at 8-8.
Fifth set | FEDERER 8, DJOKOVIC 7
Federer will serve for the championship.
Two loose forehands from Djokovic gave Federer his first break point in four return games, and he casually converted it with a forehand passing shot winner, breaking Djokovic for the seventh time.
This one, of course, was the most crucial of them all: Federer will now serve for a 21st Grand Slam title, up by 8-7 in the fifth set.
Fifth set | Djokovic 6, FEDERER 6
Djokovic and Federer remain deadlocked.
After 3 hours 57 minutes, the players are at 6-6 in the fifth set.
Neither has had a championship point yet, but Djokovic was a point away from earning such an opportunity four times during Federer’s last game.
Federer is playing in win-by-two territory in the fifth set of a Wimbledon final for the third time in his career, having lost to Rafael Nadal, 9-7, in 2008 but winning over Andy Roddick, 16-14, in 2009.
The four Grand Slams have four different ways to settle final sets now. That led Djokovic to ask the chair umpire Damian Steiner: “When is the tiebreak? 10-all?”
Should it be needed, it will be at 12-12, still a dozen games away.
Image
Roger Federer won the fourth set of the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic, 6-4, setting up a decisive fifth set for the title.CreditNic Bothma/EPA, via Shutterstock
Fifth set | Djokovic 5, FEDERER 4
Djokovic put himself one game from the title.
Federer consolidated his break, holding for 4-4 in the fifth set, and opened up his next return game with a super backhand drop shot winner. Djokovic regained control, however, and despite another winning Federer drop shot, held for 5-4 to put himself one game from the title.
These two are now in win-by-two territory, but the 16-14 score line by which Federer won a fifth set against Andy Roddick in the final 10 years ago will not be possible: this year, Wimbledon has instituted a fifth-set tiebreaker to be played if the score remains deadlocked at 12-12.
Fifth set | Djokovic 4, FEDERER 3
Federer breaks back to cut Djokovic’s lead.
In a fifth set that has seemed more about nerves than sparkling tennis, Federer got proceedings back on serve, 4-3.
At 15-30, Federer had a good look at a forehand down the line but shoved it long, leveling the game. After Djokovic double-faulted on the next point to give Federer a break point, Federer again missed a forehand long, an unforced error.
Federer pounced a point later, closing out a 20-shot rally with a forehand winner. On the next point, the second break point of the game, it was Djokovic’s turn to miss a forehand long.
The Centre Court crowd, ardently behind Federer the whole match, broke into chants of “Roger! Roger!” during the ensuing changeover.
Fifth set | Djokovic 4, FEDERER 2
Djokovic goes up a break of serve.
The Djokovic return game has awakened, and the defending champion is within reach of another title.
On his second break point of the sixth game in the final set, Djokovic awkwardly hit a short backhand that drew Federer forward, then unleashed on his next backhand, delivering a passing shot winner to take a 4-2 lead.
Djokovic has still won 10 fewer points overall than Federer, but he is just two games from the title.
Fifth set | Federer 2, Djokovic 2
Federer saves three break points early in the fifth set.
Djokovic did not earn a break point in this final until deep into the fourth set, but quickly found a pair of opportunities in the fourth game of the final set, going up, 15-40, on Federer’s serve.
Federer saved the first with a second serve that jammed Djokovic’s backhand. He saved the second with an inside-out forehand into Djokovic’s backhand, which the flexible Serb could not retrieve.
Two points later, Federer saved a third break point with an 123 m.p.h. ace that tagged the far sideline. He then held with another strong serve wide into Djokovic’s backhand, which Djokovic sent back but short enough for Federer to swiftly end the point with a forehand into the open court, leveling the final frame at 2-2.
FOURTH set | FEDERER WINS, 6-4
They are headed to a fifth set.
After dropping serve for the first time, Federer didn’t blink with a second chance to close out the fourth set, which he did without losing a point. He finished with a flourish with a forehand volley at net.
Federer left the court to change before the fifth set; Djokovic remained, snacking on energizing dates.
Federer has been the better player Sunday by raw numbers, winning 15 more total points so far, but Djokovic has won all three previous five-setters between the two: the U.S. Open semifinals in 2010 and 2011, and the 2014 Wimbledon final.
FOURTH set | FEDERER 5, Djokovic 4
Djokovic finally breaks Federer’s serve.
After 2 hours 47 minutes, Djokovic finally earned his first break point of the match with Federer serving for the fourth set at 5-2. The opportunity led to the best rally of the match so far, a 35-shot exchange that ended with a Federer backhand winner.
Djokovic earned another opportunity two points later, however, and converted it for his first break of the match. He then consolidated that break. Federer will serve to force a fifth set for a second time, up 5-4.
FOURTH set | FEDERER 5, Djokovic 2
Federer takes command of the fourth set.
For the second time Sunday, Federer has torn a set wide open, winning four straight games to race to a commanding, double-break lead of 5-2 in the fourth set.
Federer, who has still not faced a single break point on his serve, has converted five of eight break-point opportunities on his return, and will serve to force a fifth set.
That Federer is still behind in the overall score is a testament to Djokovic’s grit and a demonstration of the idiosyncratic tennis scoring system, given that he has won 16 more points overall.
FOURTH set | FEDERER 4, Djokovic 2
Federer gains an advantage in the fourth set.
Federer has not faced a single break point on his serve against the player considered the game’s best returner. And he broke Djokovic’s serve for the fourth time, going up by 3-2 in the fourth set. He then held at love to make it 4-2.
Despite this big advantage in breaks, Federer still has considerable work to do in this match, which he trails two sets to one, despite having won 10 more total points.
Third set | Djokovic WINS, 7-6
Djokovic claims the tiebreaker, 7-4.
After playing from behind and struggling to stay level through the third set, Djokovic surged ahead in the tiebreaker — with considerable help from Federer’s backhand.
Federer hit three unforced backhand errors in the first five points, helping Djokovic to a 4-1 lead. Djokovic extended that lead to 5-1 by winning a 23-shot rally that ended with another error, this one forced, from Federer’s backhand.
Federer cut his deficit to 4-5 with an ace, but then a squibbed backhand drop shot error gave Djokovic his first set point, which he converted by hitting an unreturnable deep shot to Federer’s forehand corner.
Djokovic leads two sets to one, and is one set from a 16th Grand Slam title, his fifth at Wimbledon.
Image
Djokovic claimed the third set.CreditNic Bothma/EPA, via Shutterstock
Third set | FEDERER 6, Djokovic 6
The third set heads to a tiebreaker.
Like the first set, the third set of this men’s final will be determined by a tiebreaker, after 12 straight holds of serve.
Also like the first set, there was only one break point in the third set, which Djokovic saved.
Federer won four more total points than Djokovic in the third set heading into the tiebreaker, and 13 more in the match.
Third set | FEDERER 5, Djokovic 5
Djokovic saves a set point.
The first break point of the third set was also a set point for Federer, earned with a deep forehand followed by a backhand half-volley winner.
Down by 30-40, Djokovic hit a strong, deep serve that kicked off the service line and forced Federer into a backhand error. Another strong serve gave Djokovic game point and a running backhand that Federer netted his reply to level the score of the third set at 5-5.
Third set | FEDERER 5, Djokovic 4
The third set is ticking along on serve.
Neither player has earned a break point through the first nine games. Federer is making far more inroads on return than Djokovic in the match. He has made 83 percent of returns, compared with just 59 percent for Djokovic, and has earned five break points to Djokovic’s zero.
Image
Both Federer and Djokovic struggled to break serve in the first and third sets.CreditClive Brunskill/Getty Images
Third set | FEDERER 2, Djokovic 2
Djokovic is back on track.
After a shaky second set, Djokovic has kept proceedings on serve to 2-2. Djokovic on Friday won the longest rally (45 shots) at Wimbledon since it started tracking rally length in 2005. He also won the longest rally of this match so far, 21 shots, to go up by 40-15 in the fourth game.
One category where Djokovic is less superlative is his serve: his five aces are canceled out by five double faults.
SECOND set | FEDERER WINS, 6-1
Djokovic’s game slides off the rails.
After losing a hard-fought first set, Federer won the second set with considerable ease, taking it by 6-1 in just 25 minutes. He broke Djokovic’s serve three times. Djokovic had an impressive 14 winners against six unforced errors in the first set, but imploded in the second, hitting just two winners against 10 unforced errors. He finished the set by dropping his serve to love, including a double fault.
Federer knows, however, that a 6-1 second set does not necessarily indicate a winner. He lost the second set to Nadal in his semifinal on Friday by the same score, only to come back and win the next two sets.
Image
Federer wins the second set, 6-1. Djokovic took the first set.CreditPool photo by Will Oliver
SECOND set | FEDERER 5, Djokovic 1
Federer has been in control.
Federer won 15 of the first 19 points in the second set, though Djokovic got on the board with a hold for 1-4. There had been only one 6-0 “bagel” set between the two in their 47 previous matches: the first set the 2012 Cincinnati Masters, won by Federer.
SECOND set | FEDERER 3, Djokovic 0
Federer jumps ahead in the second set.
After a lousy finish to the first-set tiebreaker, Federer surged ahead to start the second, breaking Djokovic’s serve for the first time.
Djokovic helped significantly, hitting two unforced errors and losing his footing on another point. Federer consolidated on the gift, holding for 2-0, and then broke Djokovic again in the next game.
First set | Djokovic WINS, 7-6
Djokovic rallies to win the tiebreaker, 7-5.
Federer seemed to have the third point of the tiebreaker won. After Djokovic fended off a passing shot with a backhand block volley, Federer was left with a short forehand, but he sent it long. Djokovic carried that momentum into the next point, going up by 3-1 on a Federer backhand that was also sent long.
Federer leveled the tiebreaker at 3-3 with a backhand he was able to step into and trace down the lines. He then took a 4-3 lead by winning a second point in a row on Djokovic’s serve, slapping a forehand passing shot down the line.
A wide serve at 123 m.p.h. extended Federer’s lead to 5-3, but a badly mistimed forehand lost him his minibreak advantage, putting Djokovic back on serve at 5-4. Another forehand error from Federer leveled the tiebreaker at 5-5.
Djokovic controlled the next point with his backhand to earn his first set point at 6-5, and again attacked Federer’s backhand to close out the set, drawing an error and finishing it two minutes shy of an hour. The crowd was audibly disappointed.
First set | Federer 6, Djokovic 6
The first set goes to a tiebreaker.
After 49 minutes and only one break point, Federer and Djokovic are headed to a first set tiebreaker.
Their last final at Wimbledon, in 2015, opened with two tiebreakers: Djokovic won the first, 7-1, then Federer took the second, 12-10.
First set | Federer 4, Djokovic 4
The crowd is staunchly in Federer’s favor.
Federer and Djokovic have traded four holds apiece, and stand level at 4-4 in the first set. As is usually the case in matches between these two, the crowd is staunchly in Federer’s favor.
The most raucous pro-Federer crowd the two have played in front of was at the 2015 United States Open final, when an hourslong rain delay gave fans plenty of time to get more … spirited before the match began.
First set | Federer 3, Djokovic 2
Federer sees his first chance to break serve.
Federer earned his first break point of the match in the fourth game, a 14-point struggle that marked the first battle of this final.
On break point, Federer successfully challenged a Djokovic first serve that had landed out, then hit a backhand slice return and several more slices. But he could not corral his forehand drive when he tried to assert himself in the rally. Djokovic then held, leveling the match at 2-2. Federer got into a hole of his own, down 0-30 on his next service game, but dug out of it with four sharp first serves to keep the set on serve at 3-2.
Image
Federer is chasing his ninth Wimbledon title.CreditClive Brunskill/Getty Images
First set | Federer 1, Djokovic 1
Both players start with easy service games.
Roger Federer served to open his 12th Wimbledon final, and held with little fuss, dropping just one point. Novak Djokovic reciprocated by doing one better, losing no points.
Among those in the royal box to see them are: the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; the actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston and Edward Norton; and the past Wimbledon champions Stefan Edberg, Chris Evert, Jan Kodes, Rod Laver, John Newcombe and Stan Smith.
[Read about how the royal box at Centre Court is filled.]
The chair umpire is Damian Steiner of Argentina.
Image
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, TV presenter Lauren Sanchez, sit in the Royal Box during the Wimbledon men’s final.CreditAndrew Couldridge/Reuters
More tennis coverage
Articles about Wimbledon
How Simona Halep Beat Serena Williams for the Wimbledon Title
July 13, 2019
On Pigeon Patrol, Rufus the Hawk Rules the Skies Over Wimbledon
July 12, 2019
Gardeners Give Two-Tone Wimbledon Some Strokes of Color
July 14, 2019
Christopher Clarey has covered global sports for The Times and the International Herald Tribune for more than 25 years from bases in France, Spain and the United States. His specialties are tennis, soccer, the Olympic Games and sailing. @christophclarey
A version of this article appears in print on , Section SP, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: We’ve Seen This Before, And It Never Gets Old. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
Advertisement
Site Index
Go to Home Page »
news
opinion
arts
living
listings & more
Site Information Navigation
© 2019 The New York Times Company
Contact UsWork with usAdvertiseYour Ad ChoicesPrivacyTerms of ServiceTerms of SaleSite MapHelpSubscriptions
Sent from Samsung tablet.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment