For the second year running it ended in tears of joy for Roger Federer.

The quiet man of tennis and defending champion picked up the famous gold Wimbledon men's singles trophy on Sunday afternoon after defeating Andy Roddick 4-6 7-5 7-6 6-4 in a final as patchy as the sunshine and showers which have enveloped SW19 for the past fortnight.

It could get to be an annual event on the first weekend in July such is the burgeoning talent of the Swiss star, who boasts a 100% record in Grand Slam finals, having won the Australian Open earlier this year.

There are those who believe one day he could emulate Pete Sampras' seven Wimbledon titles given health and fitness.

And he just might, because on Sunday afternoon the world number one demonstrated the precious art of the great champions - he won while playing nowhere near his best against a man ranked number two in the world and who possesses the fastest serve on the planet.

"I threw the kitchen sink at him but he went to the bathroom and got his tub," was Roddick's verdict.

But when Roddick sits down and views the video of a match which was interrupted twice by rain and in which the American squandered six break points on the Federer serve in the final set, he must acknowledge that this was the big one which got away.

If Federer had been close to genius for six matches at this tournament, here for long periods he was a mere tennis mortal and one who struggled to deal with the power and pace of Roddick.

"He played very aggressively. I got lucky today for sure," said Federer after he had collapsed to his knees on crashing the winning ace and then shed a tear as he was being congratulated by Wimbledon referee Alan Mills.

"It was emotional, an unbelievable feeling and I am enjoying this moment. I have a 100% record in finals of Grand Slams and these are the ones which really count."

At times, however, the Centre Court crowd did not know whether to clap or groan as the chill day and the big-match nerves seemed to affect each player at different times.

Roddick had announced his intentions from the opening skirmishes. He was going to hit the ball as hard as possible as often as possible. No finesse, little guile, just raw, unrefined power.

It was hit or miss, win or bust tennis.

Gambling perhaps, but when you possess a second serve consistently faster than Federer's first delivery then it pays to play to your strengths.

It certainly did in the first set when Roddick broke the Federer serve in the third game and then saved four break points on his own delivery in the next. Even a 36-minute break for rain with Roddick leading 3-2 did nothing to disturb his tunnel vision.

The set was duly gathered and we wondered whether Roddick could keep up the precision of his artillery.

The answer appeared to be no when Federer raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set, but even so it was by no means the imperious champion witnessed previously throughout the championship.

Federer was struggling for timing and rhythm and Roddick was constantly gnawing away at the Swiss serve.

The American pulled it back to 4-4 and looked to be favourite to take the set until fate played its part in the 12th game.

With the score at deuce a backhand return from Federer clipped the net cord, tottered for an agonising moment on top of the tape and then trickled down the net on Roddick's side.

It gave Federer a set point he barely deserved but he took it in impressive style with a running forehand down the line.

One set each. It was a match absorbing in its unpredictability, but lacking in consistent quality. The stoppages did not help and with spits and spots of rain in the air the players left the court again halfway through the third set with Roddick leading 4-2 after having broken the Swiss serve in the third game.

They returned to sunshine for the first time and at last it seemed the heat had coaxed the apparent tension from the champion. He won three games in a row and took the set to a tie-break in which he demonstrated the full repertoire of his shot-making.

In particular two backhands, one cross-court, one down the line, plus two aces, proclaimed the fact that Federer was back on speaking terms with his talent.

Two sets to one and now Roddick needed inspiration. It was not as if he did not have his chances. Indeed he failed to convert six break points on two Federer service games in the fourth set, perhaps the defining moment in the match coming in the sixth game.

A net cord from Roddick was followed by a complete mis-hit from Federer which the American stretched out for but could only put out via the frame of his racket. Roddick approached the net and shook it forcibly for several seconds, releasing his frustrations but also loosening his concentration.

Federer immediately responded with an ace, then went on to break the Roddick serve in the next game and from then on the outcome was inevitable.

The Swiss star finally ended it with his 12th ace and then collapsed on his knees, leant back in a move which would have fractured the vertebrae of the Average Joe, and then rose to salute the roar of the packed court.

"It's tough but I left nothing out there and Roger is a great champion," said Roddick, for whom there was to be no fourth of July victory parade.

The best thing was that with Roddick 21 and Federer 22 this could become the rivalry men's tennis has been seeking.