Switzerland’s Roger Federer turned back the clock once again Sunday at the All England Club to defeat local favorite Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 for his record-tying seventh Wimbledon title and first since 2009.
With the win Federer extends his own record to 17 Grand Slam titles, while collecting his first since the Australian Open in 2010. Murray, who has had the unfortunate timing of playing in his prime against the likes of Federer, Rafael Nadal (11 Grand Slam titles,) and Novak Djokovic (5 Grand Slam titles) will have to wait again.
The 25-year-old from Great Britain was attempting to be the first countryman to win at the All England Club since 1936. Personally, he was trying to win his first major while playing in his fourth major final—third against Federer who turned him back in the finals at the Australian Open in 2010 and US Open in 2008.
“It’s tough. Every one has been different ways.” said Murray, according to Wimbledon’s website. “I thought I played a pretty good match.”
He did, though Federer played a great one.
After being broken in the first game of the match after several uncharacteristic unforced errors, Murray kept momentum, even after getting broken himself in the fourth game, to win the set.
But Federer soon got in a groove and wasn’t broken again.
For the match, the aggressive Federer went to the net almost twice as much as Murray (68 times officially to Murray’s 39) and was credited with 62 winners to Murray’s 46.
“I guess I decided in the bigger matches to take it more to my opponent instead of waiting a bit more for the mistakes,” said Federer. “This is I guess how you want to win Wimbledon, is by going after your shots, believing you can do it.”
