11/05/24
July 05, 2009
Federer Outlasts Roddick in Longest Wimbledon Final Ever : Roger Federer won a record 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon Sunday over Andy Roddick, in a line that goes down in history: 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14. The only time Federer broke Roddick's serve was in the deciding game.
I feel for Roddick - he was amazing today. To think that he could face Federer and get broken only once, and still lose? That's re-goddamn-diculous.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:41 PM on July 05, 2009
Great finish. Roddick was playing incredible tennis in the fifth set up until the final three games, when he started making unforced errors. I didn't know he was capable of elevating his game to that level. I was hoping this was his year.
Did Federer look winded at all at the end? Even slightly out of gas? The guy is a robot.
posted by rcade at 03:01 PM on July 05, 2009
This was a spectacular match. The power these guys have, not to mention their speed, is incredible. Plus, generating all that power without the need to scream and shriek like they're getting their throats slashed (like the women players do) makes it much more enjoyable (and less embarrassing) to watch. For a while I really thought Roddick was going to win, but Federer is tough to overcome.
posted by dyams at 03:01 PM on July 05, 2009
Watched the whole thing today. In a word, WOW!
posted by Howard_T at 03:02 PM on July 05, 2009
Men's tennis has become much more interesting in the last few years with the decline of the overpowering serve/volley game -- Wimbledon especially was notorious for no rallies (think early to late nineties). I think Aggassi's late-career emphasis on return-of-serve might be partially responsible for this. Anyway it is a golden time for Men's tennis I think. I only caught the last set of this match, which was like watching all of a normal final. I never cared much for Roddick but he was very gracious in defeat. Federer is pretty bland off-court but incredible on it. I was glad to see Rod Laver get some love at the end of match -- especially it being noted how much he might have won if he hadn't been disqualified for 6 years (or whatever) for turning pro.
posted by rumple at 03:42 PM on July 05, 2009
Men's tennis has become much more interesting in the last few years with the decline of the overpowering serve/volley game
Federer won 37 of 39 service games. Roddick won 38 of 39 service games.
I don't think this was the match to make that argument.
posted by charlatan at 03:57 PM on July 05, 2009
True, but it wasn't the serve/weak return/volley winner of old, it was serve/strong return/shotmaking chess match. So I take your point the serve is still importaant but from my perspective it was much more interesting to watch.
posted by rumple at 04:20 PM on July 05, 2009
Fifth sets like these are what make the other Grand Slams better than the U.S. Open. Had this been played in New York, with a fifth-set tiebreaker, we never would have a match like this.
posted by jjzucal at 04:56 PM on July 05, 2009
The only time Federer broke Roddick's serve was in the deciding set.
Even more incredible was that the only time Federer broke Roddick's serve in the whole match was the final game of the match!
Wow. Great match. Great athletes. I'm not really a Roddick fan but you have to admire his effort in this one.
posted by cjets at 04:58 PM on July 05, 2009
Oops -- that's what I meant to say in the post. The fact he didn't break until the deciding game blows me away.
posted by rcade at 05:00 PM on July 05, 2009
You could see in the final games that Federer was going to win - he just plain outlasted Roddick. A couple of straight service wins where he didn't give up a point while Roddick went to deuce on his serves before winning. Roddick couldn't keep going like that. Amazing match.
Also since there was no front page post - props to Serena for her win and then winning the doubles with Venus later in the day.
posted by kokaku at 05:49 PM on July 05, 2009
I can't believe how much Federer owns Roddick. I had my hopes up, but when Federer came back in the second set tie break down 5-1, I knew it would be another slam for him.
posted by cheemo13 at 07:20 PM on July 05, 2009
I think this one ends the relative coolness of the Wimbledon crowd towards Roddick. Like Goran, you're likely to detect the feeling he ought to get just one win. (Lendl also became an underdog hero late in his career, but never got that win.) So, if he makes it to another final, he'll have the sympathy vote. Unless it's against Murray.
The Nike 'well done Roger' ad that followed was a bit much, though.
posted by etagloh at 07:23 PM on July 05, 2009
The Nike 'well done Roger' ad that followed was a bit much, though.
I dunno, the netjets one after that almost made me go out and get a personal jet for all my trophies.
posted by jmd82 at 09:59 PM on July 05, 2009
This and the previous win at Roland Garros pretty much ruin any arguments I have been holding onto regarding Federer's status as best ever.
With all due respect to the runners up in these last two majors (especially Roddick, my god what a match), I'm sad that Nadal had to miss out. Injuries are part of the sport - of all sport - and sometimes it sucks.
So, cheers to Federer - the best ever!
... although Rod Laver... ...
posted by bobfoot at 12:23 AM on July 06, 2009
That was an incredible match. I was rooting for Roddick. I hope he eventually gets one.
posted by bperk at 10:25 AM on July 06, 2009
At least Roddick can go to bed knowing, as Mediate said about playing Tiger, that he "threw the kitchen sink at him."
posted by brainofdtrain at 11:21 AM on July 06, 2009
That 5th set was awesome. Once it got to 3-3, knew first player to break would win. Sadly, you could see his nerves getting the best of him that last game. He needed to get those first serves in that game, otherwise he was way off.