Federer Stands Alone2009-07-05

Roger Federer, who was reduced to tears after losing last year's Wimbledon final, exulted on the same patch of Centre Court Sunday after winning his 15th Grand Slam title -- one that breaks his tie with Pete Sampras for the most career majors.

Federer prevailed in the longest Grand Slam final in men's history, turning back a determined challenge by American Andy Roddick, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14.

With the victory, which took 4 hours 18 minutes, Federer claimed his sixth Wimbledon title and reclaimed the No. 1 ranking he lost to Spain's Rafael Nadal last August.

Sampras, who won seven Wimbledon titles before retiring in 2002, was among the former champions looking on from the front row of the Royal Box, with Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg sitting just to his left. The trio boast 16 Wimbledon singles titles among them, and they rose in unison to pay tribute to Federer's sixth.

Federer hailed a teary-eyed Roddick as "an unbelievable guy" and unbelievable player during his post-match remarks and urged him not to lose faith he would win Wimbledon one day.

"Today, I was on the lucky side," said Federer, who finished with 107 winners and a career-high 50 aces but did not manage to break Roddick's serve until the closing moments of the match.

Roddick bore his disappointment admirably, telling the capacity crowd of 15,000 who honored him with a standing ovation, "I'm one of the lucky few that gets cheered for."

After congratulating Federer on a well-deserved title, Roddick turned to the Royal Box and apologized to Sampras, half in jest, for not being able to keep the Swiss from overtaking his career mark. "I tried to hold him off," Roddick said.

Then he spoke of the honor he felt in playing tennis in front of such great champions as Sampras, Manuel Santana, Laver and Borg.

"I hope one day my name will be up there with theirs," Roddick said.

Roddick, 26, played the best tennis of his career in toppling Scotland's Andy Murray to reach Sunday's championship -- his first appearance in a Grand Slam final since the 2006 U.S. Open.

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