By Paul Fein

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To be a tennis player is to dream. And during this past fortnight the thoughts of champions turned to their lifelong dreams.

“It's an absolute dream come true,” said Roger Federer, who cried tears of joy, relief and disbelief after he outclassed Mark Philippoussis for the most prestigious title in tennis.

“I was always joking around when I was a boy, `I'm going to win this,' ” Federer told the crowd that appreciated his poignant emotion as much as his on-court artistry. “I never thought it possible to win a Grand Slam.”

Tennis cognoscenti had touted the immensely talented Federer as a future star ever since he won the Wimbledon junior event five years ago.

Often compared to seven-time Big W king Pete Sampras because they can hit every shot in the book and play so effortlessly, Federer knocked out Sampras here two years ago.

After the lacklustre 2002 Wimbledon final and Sampras's virtual retirement, tennis lovers had to wonder: Who could replace Sampras on the hallowed grass? Pistol Pete knew. He had predicted Federer would prevail.

The 21-year-old Swiss produced “the two best matches of my career” in disposing of America's rising star, Andy Roddick, and Philippousis with Samprasian near-perfection: a combined 111 winners versus a mere 21 unforced errors.

While the dreams of the hulking Philippoussis for his first Grand Slam title were dashed Sunday, the frequent surfer from San Diego, his new base, is determined to ride the Wimby wave to glory.

“This is just the beginning for me,” the 26-year-old Australian told the Centre Court throng.

“I'm definitely going to hold that trophy up before I retire.”

Whether Philippoussis does or not, his courageous comeback from three knee surgeries that almost ended his career already earned him enormous respect -- something that had eluded this underachiever when he'd enjoyed Miami nightlife and sports cars far more than training and competing.

Twenty-five years after Martina Navratilova captured the first of her record nine singles titles at The Championships, the grand dame of tennis awed sports fans by winning the mixed doubles with Leander Paes at 46.

Her 20th Wimbledon crown tied her with Billie Jean King for the record and also made her its oldest title winner.

“For this little kid from India, it was a dream to be on Centre Court,” said an equally thrilled Paes.

“When I was 7 or 8 years old, I watched Martina play and she really inspired me to be out there.”

Ageless Navratilova professes not to dream, or even care about, another record, the Holy Grail of tennis, Margaret Court's 62 career Grand Slam titles.

But with 58, “Granny,” as tour players call her, could break that in 2004 or 2005.

Venus and Serena used to recall how as kids they'd create a tiny plot of grass or dirt in the asphalt jungle of Compton, California, and dream the seemingly impossible dream of winning Wimbledon or Roland Garros some day.

Those dreams have come so true that John McEnroe recently called their domination of tennis “the greatest story in sports history.”

The latest chapter in the amazing Williamses story saw Serena seize her fifth major title in the last six Slams.

Yet it was Venus the Elder who elicited even more admiration for her courage and never-say-die spirit. Fighting a painful stomach muscle strain, she overcame French Open runner-up Kim Clijsters 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the semis with a barrage of powerful groundies and serves.

“It's not easy for me to play someone I care so much about,” Serena confided before the final. That likely explains why sport's most famous sibling rivalry produced yet another strange episode.

Although an inconsistent Serena triumphed 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, she was unable to summon her usual killer instinct against her wounded sister.

As a girl, Serena so looked up to Venus that she always wanted to be just like her big sis.

Watching Venus wincing in pain and limping with her stomach and upper left leg taped, Serena had to admire her more than ever for fighting the good but futile fight. “It shows what a great champion Venus is,” Serena said afterwards. “And it's really inspiring for me.”

Overshadowed by these dreamers and drama queens, Todd Woodbridge gained immortality by pairing with Jonas Bjorkman to capture his eighth doubles title to tie the Wimbledon record.

A throwback to the modest Aussie champs of yesteryear, Woodbridge, 32, didn't recall any boyhood dreams but said, “I'm astonished to think that I could ever get close to that record. It's beyond belief to think that at the beginning of my career I could do anything like that.”

Some don't dream of greatness but expect it. After hard-hitting Russian sensation Maria Sharapova upset 2000 semifinalist and 11th-seeded Jelena Dokic 6-4, 6-4, she said, “I'm very young, I'm 16, and I'm in the fourth round at Wimbledon. How odd is that?”

The self-possessed blond beauty, often compared to Anna Kournikova who reached the Wimbledon semis at 16, then answered her question.

“But I knew that one day it would come. I'm surprised, but it's just reality.”

Ah, if only all tennis dreams could become reality.