Wimbledon Men's Final Highlights: Defending Champion Novak Djokovic Outclasses Seven-Time Winner Roger Federer to Clinch Title
Novak Djokovic downed Roger Federer in four sets to win his third Wimbledon title. Catch all the highlights here.
22.04: Here's the winning point!
WATCH @DjokerNole can't hide his delight after defending his #Wimbledon title http://t.co/zlWgwnDJbc
- Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2015
22.00: Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 to win his third Wimbledon crown!
21.58: It's all over! NOVAK DJOKOVIC BEATS ROGER FEDERER TO WIN WIMBLEDON 2015!
21.56: Almosttt! Djokovic was on the run and attempted a cross-court passing shot off his backhand as Federer was at the net. The ball strikes the top of the net and goes long.
21.55: Dazzling return from Djokovic on Federer's return. Goes up 15-0 on Federer's serve. Needs 3 points to seal the championship!
21.54: Djokovic holds serve and has a "C'mooon" to yell towards the crowd. Federer will serve to stay in the match.
21.53: And now Djokovic goes up 40-30.
21.52: Spoke too soon! Djokovic picks two points in a jiffy to make 30-30.
21.52: Another twist in the tale? Federer goes up 30-0 on Djokovic's serve.
21.51: Set down, staring at a possible defeat, Federer still has a few tricks up his sleeves. Plays a cheeky drop shot and forces Djokovic to make a dash from the baseline. Djokovic reaches but can't hit it over the net.
21.47: Deuce. Advantage. Deuce. Advantage. Deuce. Advantage and Federer holds on. Djokovic to serve with a 4-3 lead in 4th set.
21.45: Oh gosh! Double fault no. 3 for Federer! Break point for Djokovic.
21.43: Federer fights but Djokovic serves an ace down the middle. He's up 4-2.
21.41: Uff sensational! Djokovic hits his 9th passing shot winner to go up 15-0 with ease on service.
21.39: Backhand error, hit straight to the net and Djokovic breaks in the 4th set! End game for Roger Federer?
21.35: Flawless stuff from Djokovic on serve! It's 2-2 in 4th set.
21.33: Federer is stretching every sinew of his body here! He was at the net and Djokovic's return was slightly out of reach...or was it? Federer stretched out and got enough racquet on the ball for it to jump over to the other side of the net. Federer holds his serve, it's 2-1 in 4th set.
21.29: Federer reviews a return but replays show it is long by a big margin. It's one game each in the 4th set.
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21.23: And there's the lead! Novak Djokovic takes the third set 6-4!
21.21: Another straightforward win for Federer but Djokovic now serves for the set.
21.19: Djokovic holds and holds rather well. He's up 5-3 and Federer serves to stay in the set.
21.16: Expect a lot more of serve-and-volley from Federer! He has also aced the smash winners today. Races away to 40-0 and a win. It's 4-3 with Djokovic to serve.
21.15: Djokovic holds on! He wins the first game after the rain break and goes up 4-2 in the 3rd set.
21.14: Djokovic comes back with a fine two-handed backhand passing shot!
21.13: Super lob from Federer! Perfection from the Swiss! Djokovic advanced to the net and Federer tossed it up, gave it enough trajectory to go beyond the Serb's reach and enough dip to fall within limits. Beautiful!
21.09: And they're back after the break! Warming up currently!
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20.52: Extraordinary level of tennis on display so far and it is only going to get better. The roof will shortly be on at centre court but these two men are destined to take the quality of their game far above and beyond it!
20.51: Oh dear! There's rain at centre court! The covers are on!
20.48: Another forehand error from Federer! Djokovic is up 3-1 in 3rd set.
20.47: There comes the break! Djokovic gets one over Federer! It's 2-1 in the 3rd set.
20.41: But Djokovic has other plans! He takes a couple of points from good serves and holds. It's 1-1 in the 3rd set.
20.40: Another pulsating rally and Federer triumphs! He has a chance to break Djokovic early.
20.38: Mind-numbing forehand passing shot from Federer!
20.34: Dramatic start to the third set! Federer was down 15-40 on his serve but came back well to hold his serve.
20.30: SERVE-AND-VOLLEY! Roger Federer takes the second set! What a sensational set! He takes it 12-11.
20.30: Stefan Edberg is on his feet as Federer serves for the set.
20.29: Forehand error from Djokovic! The Serb slips for the umpteenth time and his shot goes to the net.
20.28: Is that long? Yes it is! Djokovic can't believe it! Back on par, 10-10.
20.27: Djokovic slips! Federer brings is back on par at 9-9!
20.26: Backhand goes wide. Federer is down 8-9. Set point for Djokovic.
20.25: Djokovic service is inch-perfect. It's 8-8 in the tie-breaker now.
20.25: SET POINT for Federer! Superb return to leave Djokovic stranded in the middle.
20.24: Phenomenal service from Federer! It's 7-7 in tie-breaker.
20.24: Backhand error again! He makes an attempt at a backhand pass and hits the net. Set point for Djoko.
20.23: The centre court is on it's feet! Federer makes it 6-6 in the tie-breaker with an unbelievable point!
20.22: Spectacular rally! Djokovic begins to grunt towards the end and Federer takes the point! It's 6-5 with Djokovic to serve.
20.21: Good serve from Federer, makes it 6-4. Still two set points for the Serb.
20.20: A scintillating forehand gives Djokovic 6-3 lead, has three set points.
20.20: A forehand error each from Federer and Djokovic. The latter serves with a 5-3 lead.
20.18: Trailing 1-3, Federer's glorious cross-court backhand gets him another point.
20.14: And it's 6-6! Djokovic slips but reaches a Federer return, but the Serb's next return is on the net. Tie-breaker time!
20.10: In a high-intensity, high-stakes game, Federer loses concentration and fires wide again! Djokovic holds, it's 6-5 to him in the 2nd set.
20.08: The fourth deuce of Djokovic's serve! Federer is far from letting up!
20.07: What.a.point! The ball is in by a millimeter, as the replays on Djokovic's review shows! The crowd is ecstatic again!
20.06: Oh my! What a passing shot! Federer executes a fine, fine passing shot, much to the dismay of Djokovic.
20.04: Aggression and implosion! The rally ends with Federer hitting the net. It's deuce.
20.03: And now a forehand winner! Federer is up 40-30.
20.03: Dazzling backhand from Federer! Single-handed beauty from the Swiss! It's 30-30 on Djokovic's serve.
20.00: Federer wins two superb points! The second one, a well-maneuvered drop shots invites applause from Djokovic. Federer saves one set point and holds on! It's 5-5 in the second set.
19.59: Oh dear! Federer makes a double fault! And clearly miffed with himself for it! It's a set point for Djokovic.
19.56: Strong. Big. Towering. Motoring! Djokovic doesn't give Federer an inch of space. He's up 5-4 and Federer will serve to stay in the set.
19.53: Federer is sublime in his service! It's 4-4 in the 2nd set.
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19.49: Federer takes it! It's 3-3 in the 2nd set.
19.46: Federer's ace down the middle, serve-and-volly easy point, fantastic return from Djokovic, a superb return from Federer! It's 40-15 to him!
19.44: Djokovic with an unbelievable return down the baseline! He denies Federer three more break points. It's 3-2 to him in the 2nd set.
19.43: Deuce.Break point. Deuce. Break point. Deuce. It will not come easy for Federer. Djokovic fights on.
19.40: A rare error in judgement from Djokovic in terms of positioning and he hits one long. It's deuce on his set. Can Federer find a way through.
19.38: The Swiss at the moment has 14/19 net approach points while Djokovic has 2/9.
19.36: Federer holds his serve but he has 15 unforced errors to Djokovic's 3.
19.34: Federer brings out his serve-and-volley game again. His volley lands right on the line. He follows it up with two aces.
19.32: Another backhand error from Federer! He needs to sort that out quickly. Djokovic is 2-1 ahead, with both holding their serves.
19.26: In the 45-minute-long first set, Federer and Djokovic have displayed some sensational tennis. But the machine-like efficiency from the World No. 1 helps him take the first-round of a highly-engaging bout. Federer, like his usual self, has made his fans squeal and sigh in equal measure so far. Imperfect but elegant nonetheless. Can he draw level in the second set?
A look back at some of the key first set stats... #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/yg1N3vlfuF
- Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 12, 2015
19.24: Uncharacteristic DOUBLE FAULT from Federer! Novak Djokovic has taken the first set 7-6.
19.24: Djokovic serves well and Federer makes a backhand error again - fourth of the match already.
19.22: What spectacular tennis from these two! There are slips, mishits that are on target and it's the longest rally of the match again - 22 shots. Djokovic stands to gain at the end of it. He leads 4-1.
19.21: Djokovic serves and serves exceptionally to go up 3-0 in the tie-breaker.
19.19: And that game goes to Djokovic with a thunderbolt-of-a-service! The Serb has saved two SET POINTS to take the game to tie-breaker.
19.18: Advantage Djokovic! The Serb is moving around the court brilliantly and forces Federer to sweat it out and takes the point.
19.17: A bullet ace from Djokovic and it's deuce again!
19.17: Federer attacking the net superbly here. He goes forward on Djokovic's serve and lets loose another backhanded top spin, Djokovic's return is tame and Federer buries it down the other end to get an advantage.
19.16: Set point for Federer and Djokovic serve takes it to deuce as Federer's backhand return is too strong to stay in.
19.15: Oh dear! Double fault! The first of the match from Djokovic. It's 30-30 in the game.
19.14: And Djokovic pulls back. It's the longest rally of the game - 15 shots - and Federer hits long. It's a you-blink-I-hit sort of a contest here.
19.13: A mini fiist pump from Federer! Djokovic is a mere spectator of a one-handed backhand down the line.
19.11: What a point! Federer pulls off a masterly drop shot, catching a sprinting Djokovic off-balance and eventually not close enough to complete a good shot. It's 6-5 to the Swiss and the Serb will now serve to stay in the set.
19.10: Deft from Federer! He gently caresses the ball to drop it near the net on Djokovic's side and the return can't go past the net. Superb tennis on show.
19.07: Federer wins one superb point to defy Djokovic's serve-and-volley attempt and follows it up with a silly backhand error. It's 5-5 in the 1st set.
19.04: Serve-and-volley again! Federer serves, dances down the line for a swift return and the resulting lob from Djokovic is smashed to the other end of the court. It's 5-4 to Federer.
19.03: And another monster serve down the middle! It's 4-4 in the 1st set.
19.02: An ace far down the line, then one in the centre to force Federer to hit the net, a mistimed lob from Federer - Djokovic is up 40-0 in his service game.
19.01: Stat Attack: This is only the SECOND time Federer has been broken in Wimbledon 2015.
19.00: Yes he can! Djokovic brings it back to parity! Federer's final serve of the game is good, good enough to stretch Djokovic. However, the one-handed return from the World No. 1 is hit straight into the net by Federer. Unforced error? Of sorts! It's 4-3 to Federer with Djokovic serving.
18.58: Djokovic toying with the mind of his opponent. A long rally leads to Djokovic opening up the court and he eventually sent a pin-point cross court return that was out of Federer's reach. Can Djoko break back?
18.56: Federer breaks Djokovic! Two delicious single-handed backhand returns finds Djokovic wanting. Federer leads 4-2 in the 1st set.
18.56: Federer amps up the pressure. A 16-shot rally goes his way and he leads 30-0 on a Djokovic serve. The crowd enjoyed that.
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18.53: Federer continues to ace his serves! He's up 3-2!
18.50: Early break? Not a chance! Federer goes up 30-15 with two superb forehand winners on Djokovic's serve but the World No. 1 hits back and takes the game. It's 2-2 in 1st set.
18.47: Federer, mixing up his serves, puts one down the middle and Djokovic can't put his return above the net. It's 2-1 to the Swiss.
18:46: And Djokovic makes an inch-perfect cross-court return. Engaging tennis, this.
18.45: Early glimpse of Federer's serve-and-volley game here. The second seed also shows fantastic expertise to pick up a shot that bounced just in front of him.
18.44: Djokovic takes his first service game too. It's 1-1.
18.41: Against Augut, Federer got 73% of his first serves in and against Murray, he improved it to 77%. Novak Djokovic also got a 77% of his first serves in against Richard Gasquet. Unbelievable stats, and a sneak peek of what is to be expected in the next few hours.
18.39: Roger Federer starts off in a rhythm similar to what he showcased against Andy Murray. It's 1-0 to him in the 1st set.
18.31: Defending Champion, World No. 1 and the current demolisher-of-a-tennis-player Novak Djokovic against the record-chasing, second seed and the centre court heartthrob Roger Federer in the FINAL - SUBPLOTS GALORE!
18.30: The top two seeds are walking out - the most highly-anticipated clash of Wimbledon 2015 is about to begin. The crowd is on its feet. What a game in store we have today!
18.22: In case you missed it yesterday, Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis pulled off a sensational Wimbledon victory in the women's doubles final. Read all about it here.
17.25: Novak vs Roger - Machine vs Mastery, Precision vs Poetry, Enigma vs Emotion, Industry vs Imagination. We're just under an hour away from the summit clash.
17.19: Where to Watch Live Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer - STARSPORTS at 18.30 IST.
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Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will battle for the Wimbledon title once again - a year after the Serb beat the Swiss in an almost four-hour long effort. The year may be different but the stage and the prestige remains the same. Who will emerge victorious and be crowned the king of Wimbledon 2015? Live and latest updates from all the action at the center court:
(Also read: Serena wins women's title | Sania-Martina take women's doubles crown)
In a repeat of last year's final, which Federer lost in five sets, the veteran will look to capture a record eighth Wimbledon title and the 18th major of his career. His demolition of Andy Murray in Friday's semi-finals was a throwback to his years of Grand Slam dominance when he captured 16 of his 17 majors in a seven-year spell between 2003 and 2010. (Related: Djokovic in way of Federer's Wimbledon record)
Now he has reached a 10th Wimbledon final, the oldest man to do so since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974, and his 26th Grand Slam final overall.
A win today would break the tie of seven Wimbledon titles he shares with Pete Sampras and which he levelled with his most recent Slam, the 2012 All England Club crown.
Djokovic though won't make life easy for his renowned opponent. In finals at the majors they are 1-1 with Djokovic's Wimbledon triumph of 12 months ago following Federer's straight sets victory in the 2007 US Open. "It's great to play Novak anywhere these days because he's a great player. He's had unbelievable success throughout his career," said Federer ahead of the final.
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Quick facts about the final:
* This is the third Grand Slam final meeting between Djokovic and Federer, and the second consecutive Wimbledon final.
* Today is their 15th meeting in a Tour-level final overall. Djokovic has won nine of their previous meeting.
* Djokovic is bidding to win his third Wimbledon title and equal his coach Boris Becker, who won the title in 1985-86 and 1989.
* Djokovic is bidding to win his ninth Grand Slam title.
* Djokovic is just the seventh different man in the Open Era to reach the first three Grand Slam finals in a calendar year.
Djokovic and Federer have already met three times in 2015 -- Djokovic winning the finals at Indian Wells and Rome after Federer had come out on top in the Dubai final. History though won't count for much on a fresh day in London.
That loss in the UAE was just one of three for Djokovic all year with the third coming at the worst possible time at the hands of an inspired Stan Wawrinka in the final of the French Open, the only Slam still to elude him.
Djokovic is 47-3 in 2015 after collecting a fifth Australian Open as well as Masters titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome.
Djokovic will be playing in his fourth Wimbledon final and chasing his ninth Grand Slam title.
*Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer is scheduled for a 6.30 pm IST (2 pm BST, 9 am ET) start. Live coverage of every single point of the Wimbledon men's singles final will be on Star Sports 2 in India, with a couple of live streaming options also available on Starsports.com and Hotstar.