When Roger Federer walks on to Centre Court these days, he tends to walk hand in hand with history. And, sure enough, he was a part of something historic: for the first time ever, the gentlemen’s single title was decided on a fifth set tie-break. It was the longest gentlemen’s final on record.
But it was Novak Djokovic who walked off with the spoils: his fifth title at the All England Club and his 16th Grand Slam trophy in all. The world No.1 had equalled Bjorn Borg’s record in SW19 and he edged closer to his ultimate goal of rewriting every record in the book. He won 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4) 4-6, 13-12(3).
For great swathes of the four hours and 57 minutes it took, he was not the best player on the court – the stats told that story: Federer won more points, hit more winners – and yet he hung on and played the three tie-breaks better. He staved off two Championships points as Federer served at 8-7 in the fifth set, he clung on to his dream and finally, he got his reward.
“If this was not the most thrilling and exciting finals I was ever a part of, then definitely it’s top two or three in my career against one of the greatest players of all time – Roger,” Djokovic said. “I respect him a lot. Unfortunately in these kind of matches, one of the players has to lose and, as Roger said, we both had our chances. It’s quite unreal to be two match points down and to come back.”
It took but a matter of moments to realise what they both wanted to do. Djokovic wanted to rally from the baseline, wear his older rival out, punish him with the most physical of games. Federer – obviously – wanted none of that.
He wanted the short, sharp attack. There was the one-two punch when he was serving: drag Djokovic away from his comfort zone and, once he is out of position, unleash the forehand at full throttle.
Then there was the fly-fishing tactics on the return games. Tickling, tempting and teasing Djokovic with his backhand slice, like a beautiful fly dancing on the water above the trout, he lured the world No.1 forward into no-man’s land – not quite committed to the net; too far away from the baseline to get back – and then yanked on the line to land his catch with a venomous forehand.
This went on, game after game, for 50 minutes and more. Chances were so thin on the ground that 30-30 or deuce was deemed a real, live, cast-iron opportunity. The one break point of the set was earned by Federer but when it came to capitalising on that tiny sprinkling of gold dust, Federer fluffed his forehand, ballooning it far out of the court.
And then, in the tie-break, the whole set was condensed into a matter of minutes. The world No.1 took the early lead, Federer whisked it back again and then, in relentless fashion, Djokovic marched off with the last four points. Federer was the better player but Djokovic was the winner. That was the theme of the day.
But where the first set had been so desperately close, Federer ran away with the second in just 25 minutes. Djokovic’s concentration wavered, the Mighty One pounced and after 11 minutes he was two breaks to the good and the set was always going Federer’s way.
Yet a chap does not win 15 Grand Slam titles by being slapdash. As the third set began, it was clear that Djokovic’s momentary dip (think of it as a mental power nap) was over. He was back.
And so we went back to the tactics of the first set: Djokovic trying to keep the old GOAT on, or preferably behind, the baseline and Federer looking to attack at every opportunity. Two totally different styles of play (the ruthlessly efficient percentage player vs the ruthlessly efficient risk taker), two totally different styles of champion (the earnest, striving Djokovic, desperate to make history vs the relaxed, confident, established legend). And there wasn’t a whisker between them. Or there wasn’t until the tie-break.
Yet again, Djokovic took the early lead. When he pushed the Swiss into another error at the end of another stamina-draining rally, he was 5-1 to the good. He turned to his box and raised a clenched fist. He was doing what King Canute could not: he was forcing the tide to retreat.
Federer was playing the better tennis, the crowd was willing the eight-time champion on, their hero had not faced a break point in two hours and 15 minutes of play and very nearly three sets and yet Djokovic was now in the driving seat. Minutes later, the Serbian had the third set and had moved ominously into the lead again.
Throughout all of this, Federer remained impassive, focused and utterly dedicated to his game plan. Djokovic, meanwhile, was beginning to get frustrated. He would create a half-chance; Federer would create a moment of genius to take it away again. How? How does this guy do this? Why can’t I stop him? No wonder the defending champion was getting frazzled.
But frustrated or not, Djokovic forced himself to be patient and after two hours and 47 minutes, he had his first break point. Yes, Federer saved it at the end of a 35-stroke rally, but he could not save the second threat to his serve. No matter, he had been two breaks of serve to the good when Djokovic stormed the Federer ramparts – the Swiss served out the fourth set and we were off into the fifth.
On moments of history: after that fourth set, Federer left the court with an armful of clean kit. It was his second bathroom break. Now, it is rare to see him nip to the facilities once in a match; the historians were scouring the record books to find an occasion when he had done it twice.
A fifth set is a completely different ball game to the rest of the match. There is physical tiredness to contend with, mental exhaustion after four sets of chances taken and chances missed, and the emotional stress of moving ever closer to the finish line. It is as if every mistake counts double – there is so little time to repair the damage.
Djokovic, the younger man, the defending champion, broke first. Federer’s friends, family and team looked as if they were about to implode with nerves up in the players’ box. Then Djokovic got tight, just tight enough that Federer could break straight back. As the crowd chanted his name, the Swiss got back on level terms at 4-4. By this point, the nerves of both men looked stretched to breaking point while the crowd had bitten their fingernails down to the elbows.
Federer was trying to keep the points short; Djokovic was trying to remember to breathe. Neither of them were doing it perfectly. And with Djokovic serving first, the pressure was mounting on Federer with every game. History was calling to both of them but who would hear him first?
Djokovic got tight again, or, rather, tighter. Federer broke for 8-7. Federer had two championships points; Djokovic broke him for 8-8. From being so close to defeat, Djokovic won seven points in a row. He was back in the driving seat, holding serve and forcing his old foe to play catch up all the way to the first match tiebreak in Wimbledon’s history.
That was when Djokovic heard the voice in the distance: history had called him home.