Federer Edges Roddick 16-14 in 5th for 15th Major

Andy Roddick of the US embraces Roger Federer of Switzerland, followin g his defeat in the men's singles final on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, Sunday, July 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

(AP)

The tennis gods — as well as Sampras, Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, all in front-row seats — must have enjoyed every moment of the 4-hour, 16-minute tussle. Federer, who can make it all look so easy, was forced to work darned hard to eclipse Sampras' mark, and Roddick was left heartbreakingly close to finally winning Wimbledon.

Roddick dropped to 0-3 in finals at the All England Club, also beaten by Federer in 2004 and 2005. After the match ended on a shanked forehand by the sixth-seeded American, the two men hugged at the net. A mere handshake wouldn't do.

The winner donned a specially tailored white jacket with a gold "15" stitched on the back, while the loser — a word that hardly seems fair in this case — slumped in his chair, head bowed, until rising to acknowledge the spectators' chorus of "Rodd-ick! Rodd-ick!"

"Sports, or tennis, is cruel sometimes. We know it," Federer said. "I went through some five-setters in Grand Slam finals, too, and ended up losing. It's hard."

A year ago, on the same lawn, Federer's five-year reign as Wimbledon champion ended in a 9-7 fifth set defeat against his nemesis, Rafael Nadal. Six weeks later, Federer relinquished to Nadal the No. 1 ranking after a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top.

But Nadal did not defend his Wimbledon title, citing sore knees, and Federer not only regained his championship at the All England Club — the Grand Slam he says means the most to him — but returns to No. 1 Monday.

"It's staggering that I've been able to play so well for so many years now and stay injury-free," Federer said. "I knew what it took to win the big ones. ... It's crazy that I've been able to win so many in such a short period of time."

Sampras — whose 14th major title came in his last match, at age 31, at the 2002 U.S. Open — and his wife appeared in the Royal Box during the changeover after Sunday's third game. Walking to the baseline directly below, Federer acknowledged Sampras with a nod of the head and a little wave.