Federer, Roddick to meet for third time in a Wimbledon final [Archive]

Detritus

07-04-2009, 12:38 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/wimbledon09/news/story?id=4304297

Everyone said that "old man" Federer was slipping, but he's still going strong (21 straight appearances in major tournament semifinals and counting, just completed the career Gland Slam) while the younger, more ripped Nadal is recovering from a moderately serious bout with tendinitis in his knees. Federer's lifetime record vs. Roddick is 18-2, including wins in theor two prior meetings for the Wimbledon title.

Detritus

07-05-2009, 01:33 PM

Federer just held to move the match to 7-6 in the 5th set. Roddick has yet to lose a service game (Federer's two sets were won in tiebreaks). Something's gotta give...

Now it's 8-7 Federer. Roddick forced Federer to hit a couple of tough shots in game #15 of the 5th set, which is where Nadal broke Federer last year on his way to the Wimbledon title. There hasn't been so much as a deuce in any of the 5th set games, with every service held so far.

9-8 Federer. Speaking of deuces, Federer was down 15-40 on his service game before getting a service winner and an easy volley to pull to deuce, then won the next two points. Roddick is looking really good right now. This is the longest 5th set in a Wimbledon championship match.

10-9 Federer. Federer got aces #40 & 41 for his last two points on his service game.

11-10 Federer. This is the most games for a men's championship match now. Shadows are starting to creep onto the court now. Roddick and Federer each had aces to set up game point on this round of service games.

12-11 Federer. Federer managed to get to deuce on Roddick's service game, the first time he's done that in the match. Federer held at love with three aces in his service game. He's up to a career-high 45 now.

13-12 Federer. Roddick holds at love, picking up his 26th ace of the match in the process, then got it to 15-30 on Federer's service game before three more aces from Federer got him his hold of serve.

14-13 Federer. Federer got it to deuce again on Roddick's server, but then Roddick had two service winners to hold. Federer held at love, including ace #49, and #21 of the 5th set.

15-14 Federer. Roddick has held 10 straight times when a break would mean the match is over. Federer holds at love again, and dials up ace #50 before a service winner for the hold.

In game 30 of the 5th set, Roddick goes down love-30, gets three service winners to go up 40-30, then Federer forces one deuce, and a second, before beating Roddick from the ground.

Federer wins 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14.