Djokovic wins third Wimbledon title

Djokovic won the match 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Novak Djokovic retained his Wimbledon title on Sunday by beating Roger Federer in four pulsating sets, and celebrated with his customary mouthful of grass before lifting the famous 18 inch Challenge Cup and pocketing a cheque for £1.8m.

Over the past 20 Grand Slam tournaments, Djokovic has reached 15 finals, winning eight.

Fresh from their respective triumphs on Centre Court over the weekend, Djokovic and Williams were back in the spotlight late on Sunday evening as the pair became the first champions to dance together at the gala event at the London Guildhall since Bjorn Borg and Chris Evert in 1976.

On the stats there wasn’t a struck match between them.

It is only now, as Federer’s aging legs begin to creek and Nadal’s battered body lets him down, that Djokovic is getting the recognition that his incredible talents deserve.

But everything worked out well for the nine-time major champion, as he settled down and beat Federer for his third Wimbledon title. “He’s not going to hand you the match”. Federer is revered wherever he plays, but especially here, where his many flourishes-leaping backhand overheads, drop volleys, chip-and-charge approaches-remind fans of the way tennis was once played on these lawns.

“You sort of walk away empty-handed”. For me a finalist trophy is not the same. “Everybody knows that”, Federer said.

“I still think I had a great tournament”, he said post-defeat.

“We don’t know who is what, all these things, but he’s clearly making a big name for himself, having won as many times now as he has in these different slams”.

He won the Australian Open in January, then was the runner-up at the French Open last month, denying him a career Grand Slam. The final play at Wimbledon 2015 was an intense and exciting match-up with the momentum going back and forth.

Double faults – Federer 1-0.

Instead it turned into an awesome story of Federer’s ability to withstand pressure and set points with incredible heart and athleticism.

Serena was joined at yesterday’s celebrations by Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena. “It tasted very, very good this year”. I was very pleased because Serena is a great dancer. History will remember him as the guy who couldn’t quite catch up to Federer and Nadal.

So 110 minutes in, they were all tied up. Twice, he held a set point and failed to convert. “I have hopefully many more years in front of me”.

“But also his streak at world No.3, 2, 1, keeping it up, keeping it going, winning a lot of titles time and time again“. Though the score in the third set may not show it, the German believes he had equal chances in the third set as well. Still in his prime at the age of 28, Djokovic further enhanced his reputation as one of the greats of the game.

One forehand victor later, he did.

The Swiss had come out blaring against the Serb from the onset and had taken the first break point, but Djokovic was undeterred and he immediately bounced back to take his own break point and eventually won the set. “It doesn’t happen often”.