ROGER FEDERER WON a record eighth Wimbledon title and became the tournament’s oldest champion Sunday with a straight-sets victory over injury-hit Marin Cilic who dramatically broke down in tears midway through the final.
Federer claimed his 19th Grand Slam title 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 and at 35 is Wimbledon’s oldest men’s winner of the modern era, succeeding Arthur Ashe, who was almost 32 when he won in 1976.
However, the Swiss superstar’s 11th Wimbledon final, and 29th at the majors, will also be remembered for the moving sight of the popular Cilic breaking down in tears after slipping 3-0 behind in the second set.
The seventh seeded Croatian, the 2014 US Open champion, sobbed inconsolably and buried his head in his towel as his title dream slipped away.
He had his left foot taped at the end of the second set but it was in vain as Federer became the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to win Wimbledon without dropping a set in the entire tournament.
“He’s a hero,” Federer said of his opponent as he received the trophy.
Twelve months ago, Federer was defeated in five sets in the semi-finals by Milos Raonic and promptly shut down his season to rest a knee injury.
“It’s disbelief I can achieve such heights. I wasn’t sure I would ever be here in another final after last year,” said Federer who turns 36 in three weeks’ time.
“I had some tough ones in the finals, losing two against Novak (Djokovic).
“But I always believed. I kept on believing and dreaming I could get back.
“Here am I today with the eighth. It’s fantastic, if you keep believing you can go far in your life.”
Cilic, who had spent four and a half hours more than Federer getting to the final, said retiring with his injury was never an option.
“I never give up in a match. I gave it my best — it’s all I can do,” said Cilic who was still emotional at the trophy presentation.
“I had an amazing journey here. I played the best tennis of my life. I really want to thank my team — they gave so much strength to me.”
Beneath a star-studded Royal Box where Prince William and wife Kate rubbed shoulders with actors Hugh Grant and Bradley Cooper, Cilic had his first break point in the fourth game.
It was saved by Federer and it was to be Cilic’s only glimmer of hope.
Federer broke in the next game when his opponent suffered a nasty fall on the worn surface which was to ultimately undermine his challenge.
Federer then served up two love service games before claiming the opener 6-3 off a Cilic double fault, the Croatian’s second of the final.
The Swiss superstar swept into a 3-0 lead in the second set and at the changeover, Cilic slumped in his courtside chair in tears and in obvious pain.
The trainer and doctor were summoned before Cilic hid his head in his towel in a desperate attempt to compose himself.
The 28-year-old held serve on the resumption but the lethal barrage continued, Federer stretching his lead over his friend to 4-1.
Cilic dropped the set 6-1 and called a medical timeout to have his left foot bandaged and take a painkiller.
His discomfort was reflected in his statistics.
By the end of the second set, he had served just two aces compared to the 130 he had fired past bamboozled opponents in his previous six rounds.
Federer pounced again with a break for 4-3 and wrapped up the one-sided final with a second serve ace to complete his coronation after just 1hr 41 minutes.
Fittingly, he too wept at the end.
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Yet another wonderful plan
We have barely a 9 team second tier at present , and these geniuses want to create a third!
I know it’s only a plan and historically the fai can’t be trusted but at least its encouraging. Hopefully it’s not all talk as per usual and some of it is put into action, because we deserve a league with a good standard and up to date facilities. Football in Ireland has huge potential plus it can only improve the international set up with having a stronger domestic league. The standard is improving but it can be so much better if more people starting investing in itbin whatever way possible. That can be as simple as buying merchandise from your local club or going to a game to at least give it a go. I implore people to get involved!
@John Kelly: stop with the positivity, your kind aren’t welcome around here. You have to moan about John Delaney and blazers and our poor team. It’s all about the thumbs don’t ya know.
@Gerry McCaughey: I wasn’t talking to you anyway ya pleb
The last line to me (quote regarding Brexit) epitomises the FAI for me.
The fact they have relied far to heavily on another football association to nurture our own talent and wash their hands of creating a viable league system on a divided island suddenly shifted into a blinkered vision of what they dillusionally ‘wish’ to achieve.
Kids playing matches every weekend on waterlogged pitches that often are not even flat. Long ball is all they can play. When they go to school its GAA and Rugby.
@Mogh Roith: our pitches are grand; you’d want to see what they have to play on in Brazil, and yet look at what they produce.
@Philip Fox: Brazil also has a population of over 200 million
@Philip Fox: Croatia is the like for like example. Similar population….much stronger league abd under a weak FA.
We need to aim higher avd longer term than 3 years away.
@Mogh Roith: totally untrue to say “long ball is all they can play” You obviously haven’t been to watch schoolboy football in recent years.
@Sean Coady: ah ya sure pass and move is grand when you avoid the puddle. You obviously haven’t a clue yourself.
When are they building Eircom Park?
@Genera L Consensus: Where oh where is our Bertie Bowl?
Believe all that bulls,,t and you will Believe anything
Targetting 50% retention rate of new referees is low. They need to crack down on clubs to manage the sidelines to ensure refs are not abused or harassed the way they are.
What about an all island league, FAI COUNTY TEAMS??
@David Crosbie: How many changes have been made over the last 10 years by the GAA to the league and championship? 140 years on the go and they are STILL trying to get a county based system right!
@sean o’dhubhghaill: maybe the GAA should look at the AFL format,
Would love to see it happening. We can live in hope.