London - Arabstoday
Federer holds the trophy for the seventh time
Roger Federer overpowered British number one Andy Murray in four sets 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to win his seventh Wimbledon crown at the All England Club on Sunday, also regaining the world number one ranking
with this victory as he captured his record 17th Grand Slam title.
Playing in his record eighth Wimbledon final, Federer recaptured his form after losing the first set 4-6 to the fourth seed Murray as the third seeded Swiss won the next three sets and eventually the match.
Federer won the third set to move 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 ahead of Murray.
In claiming his 17th Grand Slam title, the Swiss player equals American Peter Sampras’s record of seven titles at the grass court tournament.
World number four Murray was bidding to become the first home winner of the men's singles since Fred Perry in 1936. Prime Minister David Cameron and the Duchess of Cambridge were in the front row of the Royal box, while David Beckham and wife Victoria had travelled over from the United States.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond and Mayor of London Boris Johnson were also in attendance and there was a huge roar as the players walked out onto court.
A tearful Murray said: "The support has been incredible so thank you. Roger is such a great champion."
Federer said: "I think he (Andy) will at least win one Grand Slam. I think I played some of my best tennis in the last couple of matches. I couldn't be more happy being back here as the winner. It is a great moment. It feel nice to get my hands back on the trophy.
"This just feels amazing," said Federer. "I have great momentum, great confidence and it all came together for me."
He also returns to the world number one spot courtesy of his win and will overtake Sampras’s career total of 286 weeks at the summit of the game.
Federer, 30, had held the spot for 285 weeks, but has not been ranked number one since May 2010.
Federer had to work for his win over Murray having been broken by the gallant Scotsman in the ninth game of the match to drop the opening set before coming roaring back to claim the next three sets with some of his finest tennis.
Murray produced an almighty performance and could easily have won the second set before rain forced the final to be moved under the roof. That seemed to suit Federer, who subjected his opponent to considerable pressure whose serve was broken twice at key moments in the third and fourth sets.