Djokovic’s ascension continues at Federer’s expense

Novak Djokovic has sent Roger Federer packing, and taken out victory in the historic Wimbledon tournament.

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic will win “four or five more Grand Slams” in the next two years, reported by former world number one John McEnroe.

While Federer struck 58 winners to Djokovic’s 45, the 17-times major champion’s 35 unforced errors to the Serb’s 16 proved telling as the second seed’s silky groundstrokes deserted him too often on pressure points. After this one, Djokovic bellowed.

“Now I need some time off, vacation, relaxing”. A forehand victor followed, and it was over.

Djokovic’s three titles now equal those of his coach Boris Becker.

When Djokovic and Federer returned, the momentum was well and truly back with the Serb, who took the next two sets to win his third Wimbledon title. “You dream of winning and as a child you dream of doing something insane when you win it, so that was it”.

After the awarding of the Wimbledon 2015 trophy, Federer said that the finalist trophy was not the same, and it was like he was walking away with nothing. “Everybody knows that”, Federer said.

Two days after a performance which many rated among Federer’s top five ever, he came within two sets of winning a much-wanted record eighth Wimbledon title.

As for the choice of song, Djokovic said: “I was thinking more of a waltz or something, I would say, more sophisticated, something that blends in, in the environment and the beautiful hall where we had the dinner yesterday”.

Djokovic capitalized on his escape, racing through the tiebreaker with six consecutive points to claim the opener when Federer served up a double fault. In front of a Royal Box crammed with tennis and Hollywood A-listers, including Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Grant and Bradley Cooper, Federer was in the early ascendancy. “It’s definitely been a long run since we started working together”, Djokovic said. I don’t know what the grounds people have done but they have done a great job.

Djokovic stated that Federer is the greatest player of all time before facing him on Sunday, but he is no doubt the cream of the crop at the moment. The final was a repeat of the 2014 edition, also won by Djokovic over Federer. “The way it was, I couldn’t take advantage of it, even though I had a (15-30) game shortly after I came back”. So quiet between points that pre-serve ball bounces could be heard, the crowd voiced a collective “awwwww” of lament after a fault by Federer or a mid-point “ooooh” of excitement when he conjured up something exquisite. In addition to being potentially the greatest returner of all time, Djokovic may also be the most mentally tough tennis player in history – turning what was once a weakness into his most important advantage. He then had to save seven set points in the second set before bravely leveling the contest. I got broken very few times this tournament.

So 110 minutes in, they were all tied up.

At the changeover, Djokovic yelled at himself. As is his custom, Djokovic celebrated by kneeling on the Centre Court turf and eating a piece of grass.

And with his ninth Grand Slam title, he goes clear of Andre Agassi, Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors, out on his own for fifth place in the Open Era list.