Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer - a drama in five acts
The men's Wimbledon final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer was unsurpassed in drama - in the end, the world number one from Serbia won 13:12 in the all-important fifth set-
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jul 15, 2019, 08:20 am
He played against the sentimental public favorite, also against the great tennis fairy tale of Wimbledon. But at the end of a historic, nerve-wracking day on the most famous center court in the world, Novak Djokovic (32) defended his precious title in the green tennis paradise with iron willpower and thus stopped the emotionally moving record hunt by old master Roger Federer . After his dramatic victory over the 37-year-old Swiss maestro, Djokovic failed 7: 6 (5), 1: 6, 7: 6 (4), 4: 6, 13:12 (3) over five hours and two minutes First every gesture of triumph before he hit the ground, put a few blades of grass in his mouth and then pounded his heart several times - an expression of his defiant persistence in this epic fight. Of all things, the tie-break that applies for the first time in this final all-time classic decided about victory and defeat, about triumph and tragedy.
“It is a moment of great happiness now, an incredible, an unforgettable success. It was the most exciting final at Wimbledon I have ever played in, it all feels surreal, ”said Djokovic, who repeated the cup coup for the second time in his career, as he did in 2014 and 2015 when he won against Federer . Federer failed 16 years after his very first triumph on tennis green by turning back time and again - with a ninth record title he could have caught up with Martina Navratilova, the outstanding series winner for women. "I am sad now, but also proud of what I have achieved. I hope I can quickly forget that, ”said Federer, who, at the 2019 Open English Championships, was ultimately unable to meet the challenge of defeating both Nadal and Djokovic in one tournament during his career. At 8: 7 and 40:15 in the fifth set, Federer had even awarded two match balls.
Djokovic attacks the Grand Slam record
The finale, it was also a game that could change tennis history. Because with 16 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic was even closer to Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer - the duo that had once divided the world of the traveling circus until the Serb came. Federer has 20 major wins, Nadal 18 Grand Slam titles, but Djokovic seems capable of outperforming those brands. The age and all-round qualities speak for him, the old and new Wimbledon regent, the man who remained the host in the Garden of Eden of the scene and prevented Federer's return to the throne. "It took a lot of nerves. This game was crazy in its ups and downs, ”said Djokovic.
It was nerve-wracking.
Novak Djokovic
The final of the two tennis giants, the 48th edition of Federer versus Djokovic, was a difficult task to calculate, and there was no certainty about an irritating roller coaster ride. Federer started off with a firework of brilliant blows in the first set, he was clearly the better man, but in the pioneering moments he could not take his great chances. That also applied to the lottery game of the tie-break, in which the old champion stormed away to 5: 3 after a 1: 3 deficit - only to lose the next four points to 5: 7 and the first final game frustratingly. "It will be difficult for him to recover from it. The trouble has to be big with the Maestro, ”punk TV expert Boris Becker.
He should be as wrong as probably the majority of fans and observers. Because at the beginning of the second sentence, Djokovic experienced a terrible slump, just as if he, the winner of the previous tiebreak drama, somehow still had the tension in his bones. Breaks for 1: 0 and 3: 0 put Federer back on track, after only 25 minutes of play "one of the craziest sets in this tournament" (John McEnroe) was already over, with 6: 1 for the Swiss. In a way, it was the reversal of the semi-final between Federer and Nadal - Federer had won the first set wafer-thin before he gave set two almost without a chance in less than half an hour.
Djokovic on the spot in the tiebreaks
Djokovic took a short break, changed his dress in the catacombs - and then looked like an exchanged brand himself. The Serb and the Swiss were at eye level again, both quickly won their service games, and there was little to be won against the server. Again the tie break had to decide, and again Djokovic had the better end for himself, now leading with 2-1 sets. But again the Djoker gambled away its advantages and did not use the so-called momentum. Two serve losses - Federer had already moved away and won the fourth round 6: 4. Everything was reset to zero after about three hours of play.
Djokovic was wasteful with his options, again in this last, all-important act. He let three break balls pass in a 2-1 lead. But the Serb put it away, then got the break to 4: 2, but immediately lost his serve to 4: 3. Federer equalized in the turbulence to 4: 4, he got the break to 8: 7, awarded two match balls. It went on, on and on, in the extension of the extension. 9: 9, 10:10, 11:11. 12:12, then he first tiebreak in a Wimbledon final. With Djokovic as the happier of two sensational players.