Roger Federer won his eighth Wimbledon title on Sunday, setting a record for the most championships won at the event. He defeated Marin Cilic in three sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4, taking just one hour and 41 minutes for the victory. The Swiss star had been tied with Pete Sampras and William Renshaw for most championships won at the All England Club.
How Federer won that record eighth Wimbledon title is another story in itself. He didn’t lose a single set during this year’s tournament, becoming only the second player since Bjorn Borg to do so during the Open era (when professional tennis players were allowed to compete versus amateurs), which began in 1968.
At 35 years old, Federer is also the oldest player to win the grass-court major. He won the Australian Open earlier this year, and his second Grand Slam victory of 2017 gives him 19 for his career. Here is the final point for Federer:
“The tournament I played, not dropping a set, it’s magical really,” Federer said during the postmatch ceremony with the trophy (via the New York Times).
With the way Federer is playing right now, a 20th Grand Slam victory at the U.S. Open absolutely seems within reach. So does the world No. 1 ranking. He has only dropped two matches this year.
Cilic, who defeated Federer in straight sets at the 2014 U.S. Open, fought through left foot difficulties that plagued him after the second set. His coach, Jonas Bjorkman, told reporters that Cilic was dealing with a painful blister issue that developed during his semifinal match versus Sam Querrey.
Though Cilic received frequent treatment for the blister before his match with Federer, the ailment prevented him from changing direction without pain. At one point during the second set, Cilic was in tears — which he said was from frustration over not being able to play at his best, not the pain.
#19 tastes great pic.twitter.com/3Hv3lM5Rk9
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) July 16, 2017
It may not have mattered, considering how dominant Federer was at Wimbledon and throughout the year. If there was any thought that Federer was riding into the sunset at 35, his performance has put those doubts to rest for now.
“I always believed that I could maybe come back and do it again. And if you believe, you can go really, really far in your life, and I did that,” he said at courtside. “And I’m happy I kept on believing and dreaming, and here I am today for the eighth. It’s fantastic.”