Federer reacquaints himself with the trophy.
By Andy Schooler
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Roger Federer completed a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles by destroying Andy Roddick in straight sets on Sunday.
By winning 6-2 7-6 (7-2) 6-4, Federer joined Pete Sampras and Bjorn Borg as the only men in the Open era to have won three singles titles in a row at the All England Club and the eighth in all.
Federer, in tears as he lifted the Challenge Cup, admitted that completing a
hat-trick was a special moment in his life.
"It's a pity for him (Roddick) but I really did play my best," he told the crowd. "To
win it a third time is really special.
"It has been easier than the second somehow, I don't know know why.
"I felt better throughout the tournament, even though there was pressure on
me because of my semi-final losses at the Australian and French Opens.
"I came here with huge expectations but this is almost a dream, I cannot
believe it.
"Sampras was one of my favourite players of all time. Borg was fantastic and
Fred Perry too. But I hope I'm not going to stop at three."
He added: "Today it seemed I was playing flawless, everything was working.
"I played a fantastic match, one of the best in my life. The most
important tournament, even more than the US Open, so this is the best match I've
ever played."
Indeed the world number one was once again in superb form as he left his opponent baffled by his quality of his tennis.
Federer, combining superb defence with brilliant passing shots, played a near-perfect opening set.
He dropped just one point on his serve, hit just one unforced error and cracked 15 winners (he would finish with 49 in total) to leave Roddick perplexed.
Roddick gave himself brief hope when he broke at the start of the second set and moved 3-1 ahead.
However, Federer was quick to retrieve the situation, levelling at 3-3 with shots that left Roddick shaking his head in disbelief.
The second seed did well to fend off two set points - both with unreturnable serves - in the 10th game, but it only delayed the inevitable.
In the tie-break, Federer ran away with things, taking it 7-2 to open a two-set lead.
At that point, with Roddick facing a mountainous task, the rain arrived.
After 25-minute delay, ther match resumed but the interruption did not change the flow.
Federer continued to dominate and in the seventh game he produced the shot of the match - a stunning forehand winner down the line - to set up the break of serve which would prove the nail in Roddick's coffin.
Minutes later he was serving out for a third title, which he clinched with an unreturnable serve.
Roddick admitted the straight-sets defeat was difficult to take, saying: "I'm
more in the mood for a beer right now.
"I couldn't have asked for more of myself. I wanted to win this tournament so
badly but this guy is the best for a reason. He deserves a lot of credit.
"I ran out of options because he's the complete player."
It was hard to argue.
The victory was Federer's 36th in a row on a grasscourt and he now has more records in his sights.
Borg won 41 grasscourt matches - a record the Swiss could beat here in 12 months time.
The Swedish star also won five consecutive titles on Centre Court - a record Federer is now threatening to break - while even Sampras' mark of seven championships in all no longer looks unbeatable.
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