Federer Shows He’s Unmatched

WIMBLEDON, England — His opponents on grass have been reduced to cardboard cutouts -- almost like seat-fillers when a crowd scene is being filmed -- that’s how little they have to do with the process when Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a match at Wimbledon.

There is always someone across the net, of course. Sunday, it happened to be second-seeded Andy Roddick in the final, and if Federer was going to administer all-court punishment, at least it was over quickly.

The top-seeded Federer won his third consecutive Wimbledon title, defeating Roddick, 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-4, in 1 hour 41 minutes. He became the eighth man to win three consecutive championships here, joining the likes of Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Fred Perry, and won his fifth Grand Slam title.

It may have been his best performance. Even Federer called it “a fantastic match -- one of the best in my life.”

He had one unforced error in the first set, only 12 in all, and lost one point on his serve in the first set, continuing two remarkable runs, a 36-match winning streak on grass and 21 titles in his last 21 finals.

Little wonder that the names being mentioned afterward were none of Federer’s contemporaries. The immediate post-match reviews carried the names of Rod Laver and Sampras.

Boris Becker suggested on BBC1 that Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles could be threatened by Federer, who is only 23. John McEnroe of NBC said that he thought Federer was the greatest all-around talent he has seen. Federer’s coach, Tony Roche, a man not given to overstatement, compared him to the legend, Laver.

“There is a lot that reminds me about Rod Laver,” Roche said. “He is a genius, really.”

The genius did not show any vulnerability until hitting a service winner on match point. Federer, who dropped only one set in seven matches, hit the grass on his knees and quickly rolled over onto his back. Tears came, and he shared an embrace with Roddick, who also was the victim in last year’s final.

“I hope it’s not going to stop with three, maybe one day I win a fourth one,” Federer told Sue Barker of the BBC in the on-court interview during the trophy ceremony.

Roddick got off a few one-liners in his on-court interview with Barker, and joked about punching Federer.

“I’m more in the mood for a beer right now,” Roddick told Barker.

His rueful jocularity carried over into the interview room.

“He played head and shoulders above what he played last year,” said Roddick, who is 1-9 against Federer. “I probably played a more complete match this year. Last year, I played well in spurts, but I was really hit-and-miss.

“You just have to sit back and say ‘too good’ sometimes. Hope he gets bored or something.... Listen, I want another crack at him till my record is 1-31.”

Roddick tried nearly everything, approaching to the forehand side and the backhand, and staying back. Federer had a rare wobble when his serve was broken in the third game of the second set, but he got the break back three games later, hitting a massive return that seemed to stun Roddick on the baseline.

“He figured out a way to pass me, even though I was at the baseline,” Roddick said.

And he joked about the brief glimpses of hope, as Federer almost teased him into thinking he had a chance, at times.

“Sounds like my life in high school,” Roddick said.

Last year, Roddick was up a set and a break when the rain came, and after the break, the match turned Federer’s way, and Federer won in four sets. Sunday, there was a 25-minute rain delay after Federer won the second-set tiebreaker, 7-2. Roddick was unraveling, having tossed his racket after netting a forehand in the tiebreaker.

Federer said he was concerned about the stoppage. “Of course, it makes you wonder, is this sort of payback time now to last year?” he said.

He didn’t need to worry, breaking Roddick in the seventh game of the third. Federer was able to later serve it out, though he said his arm started to shake in the final game because of his nerves.

“I guess I don’t show it,” Federer said. “It’s good, poker face.”

By then, Roddick was far out of his comfort zone, and one seasoned Aussie coach had seen it all happen before in the days of Laver, who won the Grand Slam twice, winning all four majors in the same calendar year.

“When you play a complete player, and I played Laver enough times, it is very, very difficult because if you go out of your comfort zone then the player has already had a victory,” Roche said. “I think that’s what happens when you play Federer, you try things that you are not comfortable with and he’s already had a win.”

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Hot streaks

Most consecutive Wimbledon men’s singles titles:

*--* No. PLAYER YEARS 6 Willie Renshaw 1881-1886 5 Laurie Doherty 1902-1906 Bjorn Borg 1976-1980 4 Reggie Doherty 1897-1900 Tony Wilding 1910-1913 Pete Sampras 1997-2000 3 Fred Perry 1934-36 Pete Sampras 1993-95 Roger Federer 2003-05

*--*

*

No. 1 vs. No. 2

The top two seeded men have met in the Wimbledon final eight times since 1968. The top player has won five:

*--* Year Players Result 2005 No. 1 Roger Federer def. No. 2 Andy 6-2, 7-6 (2), 6-4 Roddick 2004 No. 1 Roger Federer def. No. 2 Andy 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-4 Roddick 1982 No. 2 Jimmy Connors def. No. 1 John 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-6 McEnroe (5), 6-4 1981 No. 2 John McEnroe def. No. 1 Bjorn 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (4), Borg 6-4 1980 No. 1 Bjorn Borg def. No. 2 John 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (16), McEnroe 8-6 1978 No. 1 Bjorn Borg def. No. 2 Jimmy 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 Connors 1977 No. 2 Bjorn Borg def. No. 1 Jimmy 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 Connors 1972 No. 1 Stan Smith def. No. 2 Ilie 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 Nastase

*--*

*

2005 MAJOR TOURNAMENT WINNERS

*--* Australian Open French Open Wimbledon U.S. Open Women Serena Williams Justine Venus Williams at New York Henin-Hardenne Men Marat Safin Rafael Nadal Roger Federer Aug. 29-Sept. 1

*--*

Source: Associated Press