By Scott Neuman
Novak Djokovic celebrates beating Roger Federer in the Men’s Singles Final at the Wimbledon Championships. Dominic Lipinski/PA Photos/Landov hide caption
itoggle caption Dominic Lipinski/PA Photos/Landov
Novak Djokovic successfully defended his Wimbledon singles title against a concerted effort by Roger Federer, who was hoping for a record eighth title.
It is Djokovic’s 9th Grand Slam title and third Wimbledon singles championship. He becomes only the 8th man to successfully defend that title.
Djokovic won the first set, 7-6, and Federer leveled it in the second, 7-6. The third set was suspended for rain with a score of 3-2 for Djokovic. When play resumed, Djokovic closed out the set by winning it 6-4; he won the last set 6-3.
Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, on Sunday. Andy Rain/EPA/Landov hide caption
itoggle caption Andy Rain/EPA/Landov
For Federer, 33, of Switzerland, it wasn’t to be his hoped-for come back from his defeat by the Serbian Djokovic, 28, at last year’s final.
Federer and Djokovic have met on the court 40 times in their careers. Their rivalry is palpable, but so is the mutual respect.
Federer has now clocked up 10,000 points in his #Wimbledon career. Djokovic earlier passed 7,000. It’s 3-3 pic.twitter.com/rtfJmLhJSW
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2015
“I have played Roger many times and he is one of my greatest rivals,” Djokovic said before the match. “We all know how good he is.”
It is a record 10th Wimbledon final for Federer, the oldest man in a final since Ken Rosewall, who was six years older when he lost to Jimmy Connors in 1974.
As ESPN writes: “There have been occasional suggestions — peaking in 2013, when Federer had some disappointing results, including a second-round loss at Wimbledon — that he should retire. The debate about his chances of winning another major has been raging since.”
[An earlier version of this story misstated the score in the last set]
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