Federer scales seventh heaven to reclaim Wimbledon crown

The verdant aroma of history filled the air around Center Court as Andy Murray and Roger Federer made their regal entrance into the Wimbledon coliseum like determined gladiators fighting for transcendent glory. As seasoned professionals, their pride was always going to be at stake, but the burden of history added multiple layers of intrigue to the contest. The gloom that surrounded SW19 these past few days made way for sporadic sunshine that allowed the roof to stay open at the beginning of this blockbuster that so captured the imagination of the deprived sea of British fans. Federer overcame a tentative start, to come from behind and clinch his 17^th Grand Slam title and a 7^th Wimbledon Championship 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 after an intense battle lasting 3hours 24minutes. The finals swung between brilliant and ordinary with the same fickleness that characterises the English weather.

If there was any effect from the laden burden of the interminable British wait, Murray betrayed it with uncommon poise. The Scot took advantage of a tentative start from Federer, who made two unseemly errors off the forehand to surrender a break after winning the toss and opting to serve.

A resolute Federer earned his first break point by creating space with a sliced backhand deep into the ad-court before nailing an inch perfect backhand up the line winner. The match was back on serve, when Murray found the net on the next point. By the end of the sixth game the match had turned into an even contest, but Murray held a slight edge – he was calm and supple, and if one expected any hint of nerves, there was none to be found.

As the set wore on Federer started to turn more aggressive, pushing Murray into playing defence. As good as Murray is with guarding his fences, it took a fantastic volley into the corner of the deuce court to save a second break point in the eighth game. There was pronounced relief for Murray when he finally won the 12-minute marathon to stay even at 4-4.

At 15-15 in the next game, Murray turned murderous, racing on to a Federer drop shot before forcing the Swiss to duck for dear life. A crisp return set up two break points and Federer obliged on the first by dumping an easy forehand in the net. Now Murray only had to hold serve to clinch a set in a grand slam final for the very first time in his career. When he did just that with a ferocious service winner to the Federer backhand, the packed center court erupted in unison in anticipation of the greater things that might transpire on this solemn Sunday.

Federer had an early opportunity in the second set, but Murray came up with an angled approach shot and the Swiss sent his response wide, caught up in the urgent need to pass his net bound opponent. Federer danced with danger in the fifth game, but he somehow managed to hold on after saving a couple of break points.

But midway through the second set, it was certainly Murray that was calling the shots. The clock was ticking slowly and steadily on the six-time champion even as he was struggling to find the missing edge. Meanwhile, Murray was packing power and depth behind his groundstrokes to literally dictate the flow of the game with single-minded determination.

At 30-15 in the ninth game, Federer made a fatal error off his forehand and followed it by sending a backhand wide to offer a virtual set point to Murray. On the ropes, Federer survived another break point and several anxious moments before clinging on to dear life to hold serve and edge ahead 5-4. A double fault at 30-15 in the eleventh game spelt danger again for Federer. A nasty let cord slipped quietly into the Federer court to bring up deuce. Federer though managed a couple of high quality serves to bail himself out and avert imminent danger.

The twelfth game should have come with a health warning – just when it looked like a certain tiebreaker, Federer eked out a set point with a drop volley that Murray reached only to send the lob long. Federer completed the steal with the finesse of a seasoned pirate, running Murray to either side of the court before a prefect drop volley left the Scot with too much ground to cover.

Shortly thereafter, the players had to run inside for cover as the summer showers made their reappearance. A steady drizzle meant that the roof had closed when the players returned at 1-1, with Federer to serve at 40-0 in the third game of the third set.

The sixth game prolonged to an eleventh deuce, when Murray slipped at the net and just did not have enough time to catch the Federer lob that landed flush on the line. Finally, Federer broke serve at the sixth opportunity with a powerful forehand that Murray sent into the net. The game lasted nearly 20 minutes and losing serve broke Murray’s spirit. Federer did not take long thereafter to wrap up the set and take the lead, two sets to one.

With his nose in front, Federer started to play with the finesse associated with his genius. Serving at 1-2 in the fourth set, Federer ran up to a short return from Murray shaping up to play a drop shot. Murray took the bait and Federer left him groping in air by accelerating at the last minute to palm off a forehand winner on the haplessly out of position man across the net.

Murray dug a deep hole for himself in the fifth game when two errors off his backhand left him staring at a decisive break. Federer wasted no time in clinching it with a backhand cross-court passing shot. Federer consolidated to 4-2 to take control of the match.

Federer ran around the service box to execute the softest of forehand dropshots to end the eighth game, Murray was left serving to stay in the match at 3-5. And though Federer piled on the pressure, Murray did well to hold his own to ensure that the Swiss maestro needed to hold serve to win a seventh Championship.

The 30-year-old genius scraped the T-Line with his serve to earn two championship points. Murray saved the first, but drove a forehand wide to send Federer sprawling on to the hallowed turf in celebration. It was a victory many believed may not happen, but faith hadn’t obviously deserted the great champion and his seventh title here helped Federer emulate Pete Sampras and William Renshaw. “I think I played some of my best tennis in the last couple of matches. I couldn’t be more happy,” Federer told Sue Barker, before signing off. “Feels great being back here as the winner. Feels nice, like it’s never left me.”