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Hot Rod Keeps His Humour

Sunday, 3 July, 2005

For the third time in three years, Andy Roddick has had to accept defeat on a grass court to Roger Federer, the only player to have beaten him in that time on the natural surface.

Much to the frustration of the American, seeded two for these Championships and playing his second Wimbledon final, everything he threw at the Swiss world No.1, defending champion and top seed was coolly defended and countered.

"Maybe I'll just punch him," Roddick joked to Sue Barker after the presentations. "I want to win this tournament so badly but this guy is the best in the world for a reason." The disappointment was etched on Roddick's face as he came to terms with his defeat, which was worse than last year when he at least snatched a set off the champion.

By the time he faced the press, his sense of humour and fair play had taken over. "I'm not going to sit around and sulk and cry," he said. "I tried everything - I tried playing different ways, going to his forehand and coming in - he passed. I tried his backhand and coming in - he passed. I tried staying back but he figured out a away to pass me, even though I was at the baseline!"

Warming to his theme, he added: "He played head and shoulders above what he played last year. I probably played a more complete match this year but when you look at the stats - 49 winners and 12 errors - I was bringing heat too but you just have to sit back and say 'too good' sometimes and now all we can do is hope he gets bored or something."

Asked whether there was anything about Federer which was negative, he replied candidly: "If I said anything it would be out of jealousy or spite. The thing that separates him from us is that he is the most physically gifted player I've played against. But with that, he's just become so solid mentally - he's become a mental force too. You put those two together and it's a tough combination."

His four set semi-final victory over Thomas Johansson had in no way affected Roddick's performance in the final, which he said was not a physical match. And, while he didn't enjoy losing, he did enjoy playing it, Roddick said.

"I have fun out there when I'm competing and I feel like I'm playing well. Tennis is always fun for me. Tennis isn't fun when I can't do the things I want to and when I'm nervous," he said.

"But I was out there competing, giving it my all. That's a good day for me but you have to put it in perspective. I lose this tennis match, I go on, I still live an amazing life and I have a great time. I can't sit around and pout about too much.

"But am I angry that I lost? Yes. Do I want to win? I would give anything to win this tournament. That is the tough part."

Roddick believes Federer is the measuring stick for all current players, so he doesn't decry his own achievement. "Yes, I'm proud, especially as I know what I put into it. I am not going to sit here and beat myself up about getting to the final and doing better than 126 other guys and losing to a guy that everybody here is debating whether he's the best of all time. I'm not going to ruin what I've accomplished just because he was better than me today."

And with that, Roddick has set his sights on revenge at the US Open.

Written by Henry Wancke

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Federer the Flawless

Sunday, 3 July, 2005

Roger Federer said after beating Andy Roddick in straight sets in the Wimbledon final today: "It is a pity for him. I really did play my best tennis. This is very special to me. This was easier than defending the title a second time."

When BBC TV presenter Sue Barker pointed out to Federer after he received the trophy that he had now joined a group of three-times Wimbledon Champions that included Fred Perry, Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg, the Swiss said: "That's a nice group. To be in with those guys is very special. But I hope it will not stop at three. Grass is good for me. I was quite confident before the semis and final. This is huge for me."

Federer admitted that he was very tense as he headed into the Wimbledon final as he tried for that third title. "This was a very big tournament and match for me today - to get the fifth Grand Slam and also the third Wimbledon. I knew the importance of this one so I was pretty tense going into it. After the first set I started to feel so good that I got so confident. Obviously for the next few years I'll definitely be a huge favourite for the tournament."

He paid tribute to Roddick, saying: "It's hard for him because I really played a fantastic match - one of the best of my life. The biggest most important moment is in a Grand Slam final and I would consider this even bigger than the US Open final I played. So this is my best match maybe I ever played. Today it seemed like I was playing flawless. Everything was working.

"I can't answer how consistent I am playing. I amaze myself how I use my talent to win. Those who followed me since I was a youngster knew I had potential. But I don't think anybody would have thought it would be this extreme, basically dominating the game, winning three Wimbledons. One you think, wow, that's fantastic. When you end up winning three, you are really starting to wonder. What have I done right in my career that this has happened to me? I'm very, very proud because this is the most important tournament."

Federer said he was impressed with his start in the final. "I remember the way Andy came out in the finals last year. Now it was me this time because I felt really good on the serve, and on the return as well. I think that was definitely big, big for me to get that under way. Even though I was down a break in the second, I knew I would have my chances again to break against Andy."

Looking ahead, Federer said: "I'll take match by match, day by day, year by year. So far I have been lucky not to have any injuries, to be able to play at the level I am. But it is very draining and hard to keep that up all the time. Wimbledon and the grass have definitely been very good to me over the last few years. I'll try to carry that even longer the next year."

Written by Barry Newcombe

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Awesome Federer Joins the Greats

Sunday, 3 July, 2005

At what point do the various terrifying statistics about Roger Federer's current form amount to a public health warning?

Is there any opponent alive who does not know that the Swiss has won every single final in which he has appeared for the last two-and-a-half years?

By the time he next plays on grass in the summer of 2006, it will be four years and 37 matches since he last lost on the surface. Of his last 101 sets played on grass (including Sunday's Wimbledon final), he has lost only eight. Just to clarify the full steamroller value of that statistic: on average about one opponent in 16 gets to win a whole set before - of course - losing the match.

Hence the public health warning for those foolish enough to attempt taking on Federer at grass court tennis. Don't try it, kids. Just say no.

This afternoon on the Centre Court, Andy Roddick thought it was safe to go back in the Wimbledon water after last year's defeat to Federer in the final. He rapidly found out it was a very bad idea. Twenty-two minutes and the first set was gone, courtesy of one Federer error and 15 outright winners. At this rate he would be lifting the golden trophy in a little over the hour. Even his mishits were good.

Roddick looked appalled. After yesterday's longest women's final in history, would this be the shortest ever men's? One check of the record books proved that Roddick was at least out of the woods on that one. The record from 1881 stands at 37 minutes.

Indeed, by the time 37 minutes of this match had elapsed, Roddick had some actual good news - he had broken Federer's serve, and was 3-2 up in the second. It made him yelp with joy, as if he were about to serve for the match. Unfortunately, come 41 minutes, the good news was over. The Swiss had broken back. Perhaps Roddick was affected by his rain-delayed semi-final against Thomas Johansson lingering into Saturday. It was a tough match, despite being contained within four sets. But then, maybe it would not have mattered if Roddick had holidayed on a palm-fringed South Seas island for a month before taking on his adversary today.

Certainly the bookmakers had no doubt as to the result. They had Roddick at 9-2 for the title, with Federer at 1-8 - that is, stake eight bucks to get just one extra back. Unrewarding odds, but they seemed quite reasonable when Federer had two set points at 5-4. Roddick rescued them, but Federer's brand of tennis was too preposterously good. Roddick was having to play out of his skin to capture so much as a point.

He deserved some kind of trophy simply for taking the second set into the tiebreak. Unfortunately, of the seven tiebreaks these men had played against one another in previous meetings, six of them had gone to - no surprises - Federer.

When Roddick sent a forehand into the net for 2-5, he hurled his racket to the hallowed turf in frustration. It was difficult not to have sympathy with him. He was producing some great stuff. The problem was that Federer's stuff was greater still. An overlong Roddick forehand sealed the set for his rival. It must have been wholly in keeping with the American's mood that at precisely that moment, the rain came down.

Before today, seven men had won Wimbledon three times in succession, but only two in the Open era - Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras. Was Federer about to join that elite company? Not if Roddick could regroup in the rain break. After all, he is no mean grass court player himself. The facts back up the Wimbledon seeding committee. Before today he had won 34 out of his last 36 matches on grass. Using your skill and judgment, see if you can work out which player delivered those two defeats.

After a 25-minute break for the rain, they were back. Roddick would need divine intervention now if he were to avoid his ninth defeat to Federer in ten meetings. Judging by the way the Swiss broke Roddick for 4-3, even the Almighty is no match for Federer on a tennis court. Roddick looked shattered, like a helpless witness to some catastrophic incident. Eight minutes later Federer was in the history books with Borg and Sampras.

So despite his television advertisement for a well-known credit card, Roddick will not be requiring a second seat on the flight home to accommodate his replica winner's trophy. That honour went to Federer, the player who chose tennis over football at the age of 10 because he wanted to know that, win or lose, his results were down to him and him alone. Who can guess how many more times Federer will kiss the golden trophy at Wimbledon? No wonder John McEnroe calls him "a beautiful player - the greatest natural talent I've ever seen".

Written by Kate Battersby

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Black Retains Doubles Title

Sunday, July 3, 2005

Cara Black has won the ladies' doubles title for the second year running after she and South African partner Liezel Huber breezed past crowd favourites Amelie Mauresmo and Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-1 in just 61 minutes.

The newly formed unseeded Russian and French partnership had surprised everyone by reaching the final with the loss of just one set. And after the pair had played so brilliantly to knock out the No. 8 seeds Martina Navratilova and Anna-Lena Groenefeld at the semi-final stage yesterday, the Centre Court fans were expecting an interesting match.

Unfortunately the match failed to live up to expectations as Mauresmo and Kuznetsova rarely troubled the No. 2 seeds with their lacklustre game plan. Credit however must be given to Black and Huber. After winning the Wimbledon title with Renee Stubbs last year, the petite Zimbabwean has formed a strong new partnership with 28-year-old Huber.

Black impressed again with her quick feet and fast reactions at the net; whilst Huber, who potentially was playing the first of three matches today, was matching Mauresmo and Kuznetsova from the back of the court.

However, the real tale of today's final was Mauresmo's inability to hold serve. The Frenchwoman, a semi-finalist in the singles competition and playing in her first Grand Slam doubles final, consistently struggles to perform to her best when the pressure is on and failed to hold her serve throughout the whole match.

After an early exchange of service breaks in the first set, Mauresmo then went on to drop hers twice more with sloppy second serves to give the second seeds the first set 6-2 in just 25 minutes. Huber and Black jumped for joy and punched their fists in delight knowing the job was half done.

The crowd tried to cheer on the losing pair, hoping to see the match go to a third set, but the players' performances failed to improve. What Black lacks in height - she is only 5ft 4in - she makes up for in tremendous pace and powerful returns. Together with the consistent Huber, they ran Kuznetsova and Mauresmo ragged with their perfectly placed shots.

Mauresmo and Kuznetsova, playing together in this tournament for the first time, made too many mistakes. Throughout the match they made 25 unforced errors compared with just three by their opponents and managed to win just one more game before going down 6-1.

Written by Beci Wood

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Mixed Triumph for Mary and Mahesh

Sunday, July 3, 2005

Playing their second match of the day, the unseeded combination of Mahesh Bhupathi and Mary Pierce stormed to the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title with a straight-sets win over Paul Hanley and Tatiana Perebiynis.

The Indian-French duo, playing their first tournament together, outclassed the similarly unseeded Hanley and Perebiynis, 6-4, 6-2.

With tournament referee Alan Mills sitting courtside for the final Centre Court match of his 23-year stint in the job, Bhupathi and Pierce got off to a formidable start by breaking Ukrainian Perebiynis in the third game.

Strong service games by the Australian Hanley kept his team in the first set, but ultimately they could not match the power and precision of their bigger opponents. Indeed, Pierce's leisurely service preparations were the only thing slowing her side's majestic progress. Pierce and Bhupathi took the first set on the third opportunity, Bhupathi drawing chalk with a powerful serve.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with Perebiynis again broken in the third game, this time to love. And again, Hanley held serve with style to stay in the fight. But Pierce and Bhupathi broke Perebiynis again for 5-2.

It was left to Pierce to serve for the match and despite a spectacularly wild smash, she completed the win with a forehand winner up the centre of the court.

The win caps a successful summer for Pierce. Relieved of some of the pressure inherent to the Singles game, her efforts in the Mixed event this week have underlined the fact that she is fit once again and in cracking good form. On many occasions today she was able to outgun her male opponent.

For Bhupathi, the win will salve the disappointment of his second round loss in the Men's Doubles with the retiring Todd Woodbridge.

Despite today's loss, Hanley and Perebiynis should be happy with their efforts over the fortnight, in an event that has included many fine matches. Along the way they beat three seeded teams, including Kevin Ullyet and Liezel Huber (No.4) in the semi-finals.

The champions, too, disposed of several more fancied teams on their way to the title, including defending champions and No.2 seeds Wayne and Cara Black in the second round, and No.3 seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Lisa Raymond in the semis.

Written by Adam Lincoln

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Curren and Kriek Down the Supermacs

Sunday, July 3, 2005

What do Johan Kriek and Kevin Curren have in common with Roger Federer? Well the Gentlemen's 45 and Over Doubles pairing and the world No.1 are both competing in their respective finals today, they are both defending champions, they are both the top seeds and they share a common goal - to achieve a history hat-trick of victories.

South African Curren and American Kriek achieved their goal of capturing the 45s title for the third year in a row by defeating the Australians Peter McNamara and Paul McNamee in a tight match on Court 2, 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-4).

With the pedigree of the competitors on display this was always going to be a tight match. McNamara and McNamee are no strangers to victory on the lawns of SW19; in 1980 and 1982 they enjoyed success in the Gentlemen's Doubles by beating Peter Fleming and John McEnroe in both finals - the same team they defeated yesterday in the semis.

This year is also the 20th anniversary of McNamee's win in the Mixed Doubles with a certain Martina Navratilova; 1985 also saw Kevin Curren lose to a 17-year-old Boris Becker in the Men's Singles final.

McNamee and McNamara were in playful mood as they stepped out on court this afternoon. Serving first, McNamee laughed in amazement when he took the opening point of the match with an ace. However, this high level of serving was shorted-lived and he went on to drop his opening service game. This was the only break of serve in the opening set, which Kriek and Curren took 6-4.

The second set saw a reversal of fortune, with McNamee and McNamara gaining the only break on their way to a 6-3 scoreline. The momentum shift continued early into the third set as the Australian duo got an early break. Ahead 4-2 they looked on course to reclaim the tile they won in 2001. However, the defending champions were not going to give up their title without a fight and broke straight back. Kriek and Curren ran through the subsequent tiebreak 7-4 to complete their win.

Written by Paul Kiernan

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Champions Lose Their Crowns

Sunday, July 3, 2005

The Gentlemen's 35 & Over Doubles champions David Wheaton and TJ Middleton have lost their Wimbledon crowns after being defeated by Ellis Ferreira and Paul Haarhuis in straight sets.

Exactly a year ago the former champions were competing on an outside show court with just a handful of spectators looking on. Today they found themselves on the more prestigious No. 1 Court but the grandiose setting did little to help their performance.

Their South African and Dutch opponents immediately rose to the occasion, producing an energetic performance comprising angled drives and winning volleys. It was enough to secure them a 3-0 lead in just nine minutes.

On the other side of the net, Middleton appeared slow and out of breath, while Wheaton zipped around the service box in an attempt to cut off volleys. At 5-2 down on Middleton's serve, sharp volleying by Wheaton saved a handful of set points to bring the match back to 5-3.

But it wasn't enough and soon the favourites were a set down. At this stage Ferreira and Haarhuis looked unstoppable, having made nearly 80 per cent of their returns compared with 48 per cent by their opponents. They had also fired an impressive 90 per cent of first serves in.

The second set proved to be much the same. Despite a brief fightback from the Americans, the Wimbledon title was handed over to Ferreira and Haarhuis on a 6-3, 6-4 scoreline.

Written by Helen Gilbert

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©Getty Images

London, England: Serena Williams poses for photographers as she walks down the red carpet before the start of the ESPY Awards show at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles.

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London, England: Maria Sharapova makes her entrance on the red carpet.

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London, England: Maria shows off her backless dress.