Roger Federer wins his fifth consecutive Wimbledon · 2007-07-09 14:01
Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal to win his fifth consecutive Wimbledon final on Sunday.
The top-seeded Federer used his legendary conditioning to overwhelm the second-seeded Nadal in the final set to secure things. It took nearly four hours for him to down the talented Spaniard 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-2, and claim his 11th Grand Slam title.
The Super Swiss became just the second man in the Open Era to capture five straight Wimbledon championships, The Sports Network informs. Swedish icon Bjorn Borg turned the trick previously from 1976-80.
“It was a huge occasion for me, huge pressure,” Federer said. “Bjorn Borg sitting there, Jimmy Connors sitting there, John McEnroe sitting there, Boris Becker sitting there. You know, for me it’s a big moment.”
“Then in the end, to lift the trophy, it’s a very special memory. I’ll have it for all my life.”
Federer is now a dominating 38-4 lifetime at the All England Club and upped his record grass-court winning streak to 54, including 34 straight at Wimbledon.
“I’m just happy with such a great run, especially at Wimbledon, the most important tournament of my life,” Federer said. “I’m loving every moment of it, that’s clear.”
Federer also gained a bit of revenge on his top rival Nadal. It was only the fifth time in 13 lifetime meetings that Federer upended the clay court specialist, who downed the high-flying Swiss in the past two French Open finals to spoil his bid to complete a career Grand Slam.
“It’s a good rivalry,” Federer said. “We’ve been at the top for over a hundred weeks together. It is like building up to one of maybe the great rivalries.”
Nadal, who dropped his second straight Wimbledon final to Federer, was also bidding to make history. The Spanish star was attempting to become the first player to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Borg in 1980.
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