London : Roger Federer can win a record eighth Wimbledon title and become the oldest champion of the modern era today if he can find a way past Novak Djokovic.
The 33-year-old Swiss has defied those who dared to write him off when he lost last year’s final to the Serb in five gruelling sets.
His breathtaking demolition of Andy Murray in Friday’s semi-finals was a throwback to his years of Grand Slam dominance when he captured 16 of his 17 majors in a seven-year spell between 2003 and 2010.
Now he has reached a 10th Wimbledon final, the oldest man to do so since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974, and his 26th Grand Slam final overall. A win would break the tie of seven Wimbledon titles he shares with Pete Sampras and which he levelled with his most recent Slam, the 2012 All England Club crown.
Ahead of their 40th career meeting, Federer and defending champion Djokovic are equally-matched.
Federer has a 20-19 career edge in their head-to-heads but they are locked at 6-6 in the Grand Slams.
In finals at the majors they are 1-1 with Djokovic’s Wimbledon triumph of 12 months ago following Federer’s straight sets victory in the 2007 US Open.
“It’s great to play Novak anywhere these days because he’s a great player. He’s had unbelievable success throughout his career,” said Federer.
“But especially now the last few years, he’s been unbelievably dominant, especially on the hard courts, then he improved on the grass. On the clay, he’s one of the best, if not the best.
“He’s become very match-tough. He always shows up. It’s tough to beat him. He’s been good for the game.”
Federer allowed Murray just one break point in his 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 semi-final win and that was in the first game as the great Swiss went onto finish with 20 aces and 56 winners.
It was also his 79th match win at Wimbledon and he is closing in on Jimmy Connors’ record of 84.
But now he has to figure out Djokovic, who has yet to hit top gear at Wimbledon despite having made his fourth final.
He had to come back from two sets down to beat Kevin Anderson in the fourth round and he was struggling to match Richard Gasquet’s laser-accurate, one-handed backhand in the first set of his semi-final before he raced to a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Djokovic, chasing his ninth Grand Slam title in his 17th final, boasts impressive numbers this year.
He also has an admirable record of consistency at the highest level having made at least the semi-finals 19 times at the last 20 Grand Slams.
Victory on Sunday for the 28-year-old would have an interesting symmetry — it was 30 years ago that coach Boris Becker won his first Wimbledon title as a 17-year-old. “Boris goes through the emotions with me like when he was playing,” said said 2011 and 2014 champion Djokovic who can match Becker’s record of three trophies should he beat Federer. “There are times when he doesn’t sleep well before the big match.”
Djokovic said last year’s win over Federer also helped put his career back on track. “To win that match against Roger was something that gave me a lot of confidence. Then a few days after that, I got married. I then became a father as well, entered a new dimension of joy and happiness and love.”
