Brilliant Federer wins fifth Wimbledon title

TENNIS: Roger Federer emulated the legendary Bjorn Borg when he captured his fifth successive Wimbledon title with a 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-2 win over Rafael Nadal in a thrilling final on Sunday.

It was Federer’s 11th career Grand Slam title, taking him within three of Pete Sampras’s record of 14 and his 54th consecutive grasscourt win.

The victory shattered Nadal’s hopes of becoming only the second Spanish winner of the men’s singles title to follow Manuel Santana in 1966.

But Nadal came heartbreakingly close to adding the Wimbledon title to his three French Open crowns when Federer threatened to self-destruct at the end of the fourth set when he launched an uncharacteristic rage at the HawkEye replay technology.

The world number one had beaten Nadal in the final in 2006 in four sets and he was quickly into the groove on Sunday.

Federer, watched by Borg up in the Royal Box, swept into a 3-0 lead with a break in the second game, secured when Nadal netted a lazy forehand.

But the Spaniard left-hander hit back in the fifth game with a blistering backhand pass before he was quickly on terms at 3-3 having served two consecutive love games.

Two errors on either side by Nadal allowed Federer to carve out three set points in the tiebreak.

LONDON, Sunday, AFP