For the second straight year, Novak Djokovic barely held the edge over Roger Federer. And, for the second straight year Djokovic hoisted the trophy on Centre Court.
On Sunday, No. 1 Djokovic became only just the eighth man in the Open Era to successfully defend his Wimbledon title, beating No. 2 Federer in four sets, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (10), 6-4, 6-3. The win was Djokovic's third Wimbledon title, his second Grand Slam title of the year, and the ninth of his career, and it prevented Federer from winning his eighth Wimbledon title.
"Novak was tougher on the bigger points and at the end he was rock solid. That's how it goes," Federer said in the post-match awards ceremony.
Despite dropping only one set against Federer, Djokovic nearly found himself in an early hole. But when Federer appeared to be poised to capture the opening set after breaking Djokovic to go up 4-2, Djokovic swept away the notion. He broke Federer right back in the seventh game and then held to knot the score.
"It's probably one of the biggest challenges I've ever had, playing Roger on Centre Court here at Wimbledon," Djokovic said.
Then, leading 6-5 and facing Djokovic's serve, Federer had one opportunity to break and secure the set. But Djokovic fended it off and pushed the game to deuce. After winning the next point, Federer had his second chance to win the opening set. Again, Djokovic held his ground with a vicious serve out wide. Djokovic would hold and the two players entered a tiebreak to decide the first set.
Djokovic's incredible range gave him the first point. He took the second and third points as well, quickly putting Federer in a three-point hole. Djokovic cruised to a 7-1 win in the tiebreak.
In the set, Federer only managed to connect on two aces and 59 percent of his first serves. In the first set against Andy Murray on Friday, Federer landed 11 aces and 85 percent of his serves.
Federer quickly had a chance to surge in front in the second set. With the score at 2-2 and with Djokovic serving, Federer pushed the game to deuce, where he quickly gained an advantage. But Djokovic rallied with a deep groundstroke that just managed to catch the line. Again, Federer gained the advantage after Djokovic slipped on the ensuing rally, but Federer was fooled on the next point.
In a game that lasted roughly eight minutes, Djokovic finally held. And for Federer, it was yet another missed opportunity.
"He did deserve it," Federer said. "Well done, Novak."
Again, the two went to a tiebreak. This time, Federer won the first point with a perfectly placed deep return that Djokovic misjudged. But Djokovic would win the next three points, before Federer ripped a cross court backhand that passed Djokovic at the net.
The battle waged on. Federer fought off a set point during the longest rally of the match. But Djokovic still served with a 6-5 lead.
Federer was brilliant once again. He endured, brushing aside Djokovic's set point. But again, Djokovic took the lead. On Djokovic's next set point, Federer's second serve was as good as a second serve can get, and his volley pushed the score to 7-7.
Federer earned his first chance to take the set after nailing a forehand winner. But Djokovic's serve was too overpowering and he took a 9-8 lead when a Federer backhand went off course. Djokovic's next set point ended with Djokovic sprawled on the grass, as a Federer forehand nailed the corner. The score was tied at 9-9.
After Federer hit the net, another set point for Djokovic resulted in yet another hold for Federer. At 10-10, a poor forehand by Djokovic suddenly gave Federer a chance to end the set and get himself back in the match. Federer finished the set with a volley -- his title hopes were alive.
In between sets, Djokovic took a seat. With his shirt off, Djokovic angrily gestured and yelled like a man possessed as he stuffed a snack into his mouth.
But Djokovic broke Federer early in the third set, taking a 2-1 lead. With Djokovic up a break at 3-2, the match was suspended due to rain. After the brief delay, Djokovic wrapped up the third set without Federer coming close to breaking him. He led two sets to one.
The fourth set saw Djokovic break Federer twice. With Federer serving in the match's final game, Djokovic closed out the win with another successful break point opportunity.
