Wimbledon 2014 Final, Highlights: Novak Djokovic Beats Roger Federer to Win Second Title
Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in an engrossing final to win the Wimbledon for the second time.
Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in an engrossing final to win the Wimbledon for the second time.. (Scorecard)
Novak Djokovic: I want to congratulate Roger for a good tournament and a great fight today. He is a role model for many athletes; I have respect for your career and thank you for letting me win today. I was hoping Federer would miss the first serve but that did not happen. After losing the fourth set, I had to compose myself for the final set. The first tennis match I had ever seen when I was five-years-old was Wimbledon; dedicate trophy to future wife and future baby.
Roger Federer: It was a great final; can't believe I made it to five, wasn't looking good there for a while. You know going into a match against Novak is tough - he is a well-deserved winner.
22:38 IST: Novak Djokovic has defeated Roger Federer 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 to win his second Wimbledon title. This has been a scintillating tennis match with the final going down to the wire and it was only fair that the better player won. What a performance by the Swiss though, who fought hard to take the finale to the final set but he could not win a record eight title at Wimbledon.
22:31 IST: This has to be nerves for Djokovic, who raced away to a 15-30 lead, only to concede the game to Federer after a tricky series of deuces. It's 4-4 in the final set.
22:22 IST: Djokovic has made some errors even as the match heads to the business end. He held serve to lead 4-3 but a double fault after an ace won't hold him in good stead against Federer, eager to latch on to every chance as the final set goes deeper.
22:06 IST: Both players hold serves in the fifth set as Djokovic takes a 2-1 lead; the Serb has worked his serve out but he has taken time out for medical attention.
21:55 IST: Federer holds on to serve and thanks to Djokovic, who missed a backhand pass and made a double fault, the Swiss steamed away to win the fourth set 7-5. What a comeback for Federer and Djokovic is ruing his missed chances.
21:50 IST: This is sensational tennis from Federer as he breaks Djokovic to take a 6-5 lead in the penultimate set. The Serb has lost his early advantage, which he gained by breaking Federer early.
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21:47 IST: Federer is not giving up yet; he has fought back and holds on to serve to make it 5-5 in the fourth set. Djokovic had one championship point but the Swiss was relentless.
21:43 IST: Djokovic is showing signs of nerves with the title looming close. He made some errors serving for the match and that allowed Federer to sneak in a through a little gap in the door.
21:40 IST: Federer bounces back and how as he breaks Djokovic, who was serving for the championship. This is breathtaking tennis from two modern masters of the sport.
21:34 IST: Federer holds to make it 3-5 in the fourth set. Djokovic will serve for the match. Unless Federer breaks, it's curtains on the 2014 Wimbledon.
21:33 IST: Djokovic holds serve and take a mammoth 5-2 lead, leaving Federer to serve to stay in the match.
21:28 IST: After holding serves, three break of serves in three games. The latest was by Djokovic, who has now taken a crucial 4-2 lead in the fourth set and is now just two more games away from a second Wimbledon title.
21:18 IST: Huge moment in the match as Djokovic breaks Federer in the fourth set to take a 3-1 lead. The Swiss is clearly struggling now.
21:14 IST: This match has been a lesson in clinical serving so far. While Djokovic managed to break only once, Federer has had only one break point so far. The Swiss has also struggled everytime he has been lured up to the net.
21:12 IST: Federer and Djokovic hold serves in the fourth set, which the Serb leads 2-1 after three games.
21:04 IST: Djokovic has relied heavily on his forehand against Federer today and after some relentless rallying, the Serb finally sealed the third set tie-breaker after a poor backhand from Federer. Djokovic now leads Federer two sets to one.
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21:58 IST: Djokovic holds serve, stays in the set, and take the third set to a tie-breaker.
21:53 IST: Exceptional tennis. Federer looked like he was cantering before some sloppy serving saw Djokovic in with a sniff; some deuces followed and Federer unleashed two more aces to hold serve and take a 6-5 lead, leaving the Serb to serve to stay in the set.
20:46 IST: Djokovic holds serve and stays in the set as he draws level on 5-5 with Federer. This is riveting tennis.
20:43 IST: Federer is unleashing his unquestioned power as the match progresses; he served up three aces to hold to love and hold serve as he raced away to a 5-4 lead in the third set. Djokovic will serve to stay in the set.
20:40 IST: Same old story. No breaks yet as the third set moves to after Djokovic holds serve.
20:37 IST: Djokovic holds serve to make it 3-3 all before Federer blasted three successive aces to keep a break away still. Federer leads 4-3 in the third set.
20:30 IST: It's becoming extremely predictable at this stage as Federer holds serve to take a 3-2 lead in the third set. Things look set up for another tie-breaker in what has been an engrossing match so far.
20:25 IST: Full-scale domination from Federer now as he holds on to love and holds serve to scream away to a 2-1 lead in the third set.
20:21 IST: Normal business resumes in the third set as Federer holds serve and takes a 1-0 lead. The Swiss delivered a couple of aces to race away to a 40-0 lead before Djokovic won two points but he was too far behind anyway.
20:15 IST: Djokovic has drawn level after some blistering shots. Federer did threaten to break in the last game but the Serb was assured of his range of strokes and took the game away from his senior rival. Djokovic took the second set 6-4.
20:10 IST: Djokovic is looking increasingly dangerous as he unleashes his wide array of shots while Federer seems to be struggling just a little. The Sern held serve to make it 5-3 but Federer bounced back to move to 4-5. Djokovic will now serve to try and take the second set.
20:02 IST: Djokovic is now on the rampage and is eager to exploit the gap after breaking Federer early in the second set; he holds on and now leads 4-2.
20:00 IST: Meanwhile, here's some more celebrity spotting at Center Court; a British footballing star with his wife soaked in the Wimbledon atmosphere, among a host of legends from other fields.
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19:56 IST: Sensational tennis from Djokovic; after racing away to a 40-0 lead, Federer bounced back with three successive points but the Serb battled through Deuce to hold on to serve and take a 3-2 lead in the second set.
19:48 IST: Finally, after over an hour of 'domination' and still losing a set, Djokovic breaks Federer to take a 2-1 lead in the second set. Djokovic has missed some easy chances but his forehands come to the rescue as he makes a break of serve.
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19:43 IST: Seventeen of Federer's 18 wins over Djokovic have come when he took the first set. Are we in for something here tonight?
19:33 IST: This has been a battle of attrition, with neither player willing to give an inch. Federer and Djokovic, after holding on to their respective serves, played out a thrilling tie-breaker, which the Swiss won ultimately. Federer's return to Djokovic's serve was far better this time and when the Serb's backhand met the net, it meant Federer, targeting his 8th Wimbledon won the tie-breaker 9-7 to take the first set.
19:28 IST: Royalty at the Royal Box. Kate Middleton and Prince William cheer on as Federer and Djokovic battle on.
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19:21 IST: The two players have been ay each others' throats and they manage to tie the first set 6-6, after Djokovic nets a forehand. Down to a tie-breaker now.
19:11 IST: There have been some sloppy moments from both players. Djokovic has looked more vulnerable over the last two matches, allowing Federer some breathing space. However, the Serbian has relied on his strong serves to stay in control. It's 6-5 in the first set, with Federer serving to stay in the set.
19:12 IST: Another 19-stroke rally sees Federer hold on to serve again as the first set reaches 5-5. Djokovic had the chance to break the former world number one but two poor backhand efforts let the Swiss hold on and stay in the set.
19:07 IST: Federer is slowly coming to his own against a strong Djokovic as he sustains a 21-shot rally, but the top seeded does well to hold serve and steer away to a 5-4 lead.
19:05 IST: Federer came under serious stiff challenge from Djokovic but he held on to serve to reach 4-4 in the first set.
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19:01 IST: Djokovic has been superbly brilliant, almost ruthlessly efficient and though players have continued to hold on to their serves, the 27-year-old Serb has looked a far better player. Federer has had to rely on his flair so far.
18:55 IST: Djokovic blasts his first ace of the match and used powerful forehands to hold love and steer away to a 3-2 lead over Federer, who looked weak but the Swiss master did well to hold serve again and keep in touch with his younger opponent at 3-3.
18:51 IST: Djokovic holds serve again and he races away to a 2-1 lead. The crowd is clearly with Federer and they cheering him on every point he wins. Federer is employing the long forehands but the Serb has looked strong despite his reported discomfort in the left shoulder.
18:46 IST: A fairly regular star to the duel. Both Federer and Djokovic hold opening serves as they reach 1-1.
18:35 IST: Star presence at the Royal Box. David Beckham, Bradley Cooper, Sir Chris Hoy and to name a few.
18:29 IST: Federer and Djokovic are walking out to Center Court to a huge cheer from the packed stands.
18:21 IST: Djokovic has not won a slam since the 2013 Australian Open and he will be eager to break the jinx of losing three successive finals. We are less than ten minutes away from the start of the final between two of the greatest players of this generation.
18:11 IST: This final will be special for many reasons. Federer is on the verge of history and it is the first slam final since the 2009 US Open title clash to not feature either Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal.
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18:04 IST: The only time Federer and Djokovic met at a slam final was in the 2007 US Open, which Federer won. Head-to-head, Federer leads Djokovic 18-16.
18:00 IST: Federer is chasing history as he takes on Djokovic in the final of Wimbledon 2014. Meanwhile, reports from Center Court indicate Djokovic was in apparent discomfort with his left shoulder which he hurt against Gilles Simon in the third round. Early 'advantage' for Federer? Match starts at 18:30 IST.
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