Federer pockets 15th major title

Source: Agencies  |   2009-7-6  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

SWITZERLAND'S Roger Federer beat inspired American Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 in a marathon Wimbledon's men's singles final yesterday to claim a record 15th grand slam title of his extraordinary career.

Federer was stretched to the limit in an unforgettable duel of energy-sapping tension, losing the first set and then trailing 2-6 in the second set tiebreak before digging himself out of trouble to win six consecutive points and level the match.

He could make no headway on the Roddick serve but remained solid on his own delivery to win the third set on another tiebreak. Roddick, beaten twice in previous finals here by Federer, refused to buckle and broke at a crucial moment of the fourth with a great backhand to set up an enthralling decider.

With American Pete Sampras, the only other man to win 14 slams, watching intently from the Royal Box, Federer kept his nose in front in a nerve-racking decider and clinched victory after over four hours when Roddick dropped serve for the only time in the match at 14-15 when he mishit a forehand.

On Saturday, just hours after battling it out for the Wimbledon singles title, the Williams sisters returned to Centre Court united as teammates to retain their doubles crown.

Understandably looking a little tired, the duo took a while to get into full swing but as they powered to a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Australia's Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs they soon proved their rock-solid partnership was still intact.

"There's nothing like winning a title with your sister," 27-year-old Serena told reporters. "It's really a good feeling."

"Definitely," older sibling Venus chipped in with a smile.

Serving for the match the women's singles champion sealed her second title of the day with a powerful ace, jumping up in delight before embracing her sister Venus, whose beaming smile eclipsed her earlier disappointment.

Having played a total of over three hours of tennis in Wimbledon finals on Saturday, the double act were too exhausted to contemplate celebrating their Independence Day victory.

"We've had a long day," said Serena. "We're just still trying to figure out what we're going to do."

Also, Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic ensured Wimbledon was not all about the United States on Saturday with a tense doubles victory over Americans Bob and Mike Bryan. In a match sandwiched between the singles and women's doubles finals, Canada's Nestor and Serbian Zimonjic beat the top seeded Bryan brothers 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 to retain the men's doubles title.