The reasons why Roger Federer is the greatest tennis player in history go beyond his results. The Swiss, who turns 8 on August 36, forgot about the entire clay court tour to arrive in top condition for the assault on his eighth Wimbledon title. Time has proved him right and Federer beat Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday, in 1 hour and 41 minutes, to close a glorious circle. The first of his 19 Grand Slams was at the British tournament in 2003. To find his last triumph at the Cathedral of tennis, you have to go back to 2012, when he beat Andy Murray in four sets. The winner was crying with emotion after finishing his display with the eighth direct serve.
The two Wimbledon singles finals will go down in history because there was no history in either match. If Garbiñe Muguruza beat Venus Williams in two sets, closing with a screwball and winning the last nine games, the Swiss did a kind of imitation of the Spaniard in the title fight against Marin Cilic. Cilic's tears The Croatian, who asked for the presence of the physiotherapist halfway through the second set, made the crowd fear the worst about an early retirement. He was in pain in his left foot and cried inconsolably as if there was no tomorrow. The only time the final had not finished was in the 1911 edition when Anthony Wilding beat Herbert Roper Barrett. Cilic had lost eight of the last nine games and the score was 6-3, 3-0. He lost in the continuation, deciding a single game in his favour. At the end of the second set, the newcomer to a major Wimbledon final once again called on the physio. He treated his foot and got back into action. Roger's legend is such that on Cilic's bench, his rival, there was a guest of the Croatian wearing the Swiss' Nike cap.
The crowd wanted more tennis and Marin breathed a sigh of relief when he felt himself ahead for the first time at 0-1 in the third round. Federer didn't flinch. He knew he had the match in his hands. Later, he would become the second oldest tennis player to win a major at 35 years and 342 days. The first remains Ken Rosewall, champion of the Australian Open at 36 and 37 years of age, respectively. Cilic, always under pressure at the time of his serve, maintained the minimal advantage until the seventh game. 1 hour and 31 minutes had passed since the start and the winner was already known. The sky in London threatened rain to close out the event in 2017. A few drops fell but not enough to stop the Federer hurricane.
The Basel-born player, despite not playing during the months of April and May, skipping three Masters 1.000s, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, and Roland Garros, climbs tomorrow to third place in the ranking, overtaking Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic, and only behind Murray and Rafael Nadal. For the second time in his career, he finished one of the four majors without dropping a set. The first time was at the Australian Open in 2007. Federer is on the grass of the All England Club what Nadal is on Philippe Chatrier's clay. Since 2009 he has not won two 'Grand Slams' in the same campaign. Eternal.
Source: marca.com
